CORA  O'KANE; 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD. 


•fit  ptorv  of  tfie  Cxreai  iHLebeuiaii, 


CONTAINING 


INCIDENTS  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN  IN  MISSOURI'  UNDER  GENERALS 

FREMONT  AND  SIGEL,  AND  THE  THRILLING  EXPLOITS 

OF  THE  UNIONISTS  UNDER 

MAJOR  ZAGONYI. 

By  SERGT.  J.  WINSTON. 


PRICE    TWENTY-FIVE    CENTS. 


CLAREMONT,  #.  H. 

PUBLISHED    BY 

AN  ASSOCIATION  OF  DISABLED  SOLDIERS. 

1868. 


j& 


* 


O.^VOn- 


JMLMER  COIXE 

iS   \ 


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THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 


THE  WILMER  COLLECTION 

OF  CIVIL  WAR  NOVELS 

PRESENTED  BY 

RICHARD  H.  WILMER,  JR. 


CORA  O'KANE; 


OR, 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD. 


%  &kt$  of  %  drat  Rebellion. 


CONTAINING 


INCIDENTS  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN  IN  MISSOURI  UNDER  GENERALS  FREMONT 

AND  SIGEL,  AND  THE  THRILLING  EXPLOITS   OF  THE 

UNIONISTS  UNDER  MAJOR  ZAGONYI. 


By  SERGT.  J.  WINSTON. 


PUBLISHED  BY  AN  ASSOCIATION  OF  DISABLED  SOLDIERS. 

1868. 


CORA    O'KANE; 

OR, 

THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL   GUARD, 


CHAPTER    I. 


The  last  month  of  the  year  1860  will  long  be  remembered 
by  the  people  of  this  generation,  and  will  be  marked  as  a 
great  epoch  in  history  in  all  coming  time.  The  causes  that  pro- 
duced the  seeds  which  at  last  ripened  into  outward  strife,  it  is 
not  our  purpose  to  dwell  upon.  It  is  not  within  our  province 
so  to  do.  We  are  not  writing  a  history,  but  simply  relating  a 
story  of  every-day  life  that  occurred  where  passion  and  animosity 
reigned  in  the  hearts  of  men,  arising  from  imaginary  grievances 
which  brought  misery  and  ruin  to  many  firesides  that  were  but  a 
little  while  before  so  peaceful  and  happy ;  and  all  this  will  be  seen 
by  the  reader  as  he  peruses  the  following  pages. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  spring,  1861,  in  the  small  town  of 
Osceola,  on  the  Osage  River,  in  Missouri,  stood  a  house  of  mag- 
nificent appearance  for  that  remotepart  of  the  country,  which  but 
a  little  before  was  a  howling  wilderness.  Its  style  of  architecture 
was  wholly  confined  to  the  taste  of  the  occupant.  Its  lower  rooms 
were  large  and  airy,  and  with  its  huge  chimneys,  built  upon  the 
outside,  besmeared  with  smoke  as  they  were,  with  a  very  little 
imagination  might  be  conjured  into  the  turrets  and  towers  of  a 
baronial  castle  —  especially  when  viewed  from  a  distance.  The 
building  fronted  the  river',  and  from"  its  front  door,  with  its  ivy- 
woven  stoop,  led  a  commodious  walk  to  the  water's  edge.  The 
kitchen  and  the  apartments  prepared  for  the  servants  were  situ- 

(3) 

603323 


4  CORA  O'KANE,    OR 

ated  in  the  rear  part  of  the  structure.  North  of  the  house  stood 
the  cottage  of  the  overseer,  with  outhouses  and  sheds,  while  off 
in  the  same  direction  might  be  seen  the  habitations  of  the  field 
hands,  that  were  very  neatly  arranged  into  streets.  East  and  west 
from  the  buildings,  extending  back  from  the  river,  stretched  the 
broad  plantation,  containing  many  acres.  There  was  no  other 
dwelling  in  the  immediate  neighborhood.  It  was  more  than  two 
miles  to  the  residence  of  the  next  planter,  whom  we  shall  call  the 
Hon.  John  McBride ;  and,  owing  to  his  astonishing  influence  over 
the  planters  in  Osceola  and  vicinity,  it  became  the  hotbed  of  Seces- 
sion. It  is  true  that  it  was  also  the  residence  of  some  of  the  most 
devoted  and  self-sacrificing  Union  men  which  the  country  produced 
in  that  trying  time ;  yet  by  far  the  greater  part  of  its  inhabitants 
warmly  espoused  the  cause  of  Secession. 

For  some  time  previous  to  the  commencement  of  our  tale,  the 
Gulf  States  had  been  agitated  by  their  leading  minds  with  the 
pernicious  doctrine  of  State  Rights,  and  in  Missouri  it  found  many 
advocates,  where  the  continual  discussion  of  this  question  caused 
party  feeling  to  run  high.  Families  were  divided  upon  the  great 
question,  and  in  many  instances  they  were  completely  broken  up 
and  separated — so  tenaciously  did  each  cling  to  their  opinions.  And 
now,  that  ten  of  the  states  were  determined  to  array  themselves 
against  the  government,  emissaries  were  sent  into  this  state  to 
strengthen  their  cause,  and  their  aggravating:  conduct  had  engen- 
dered  a  feeling  of  deep  and  bitter  hostility  between  the  inhabitants 
of  this  section,  which  only  waited  to  display  itself  in  deeds  of  vio- 
lence and  cruelty  when  a  fitting  opportunity  should  occur. 

The  house  described  to  the  reader  was  the  residence  of  Thomas 
O'Kane,  a  wealthy  and  influential  man,  who  had  now  become  one 
of  the  most  unrelenting  and  determined  leaders  of  Secession  in  this 
part  of  the  country.  He  held  a  commission  from  the  state  gov- 
ernment as  a  magistrate,  and  was  now  appointed  colonel  by  the 
Confederate  authorities ;  and  he  unscrupulously  and  unsparingly 
used  his  authority  to  «the  advancement  of  the  Confederate  cause, 
and  to  the  injury  and  oppression  of  the  few  Union  men  who  lived 
within  the  reach  of  his  influence  or  power.  He  was  a  middle-aged 
man,  somewhat  above  the  ordinary  size,  with  dark,  repulsive  fea- 
tures, and  an  eye  that  glanced  constantly  with  sinister  expressions. 
He  was  a  widower,  his  wife  having  died  a  few  years  previous  to  hia 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  5 

introduction  to  the  reader,  leaving  him  only  one  child,  a  son,  who 
was  absent  from  home  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  an  education. 
Since  the  death  of  his  wife  his  household  affairs  had  been  under 
the  management  of  his  wife's  sister,  a  sallow,  dried,  and  withered 
maiden  of  some  forty  years,  who  was  every  way  as  tyrannical  and 
overbearing,  and,  withal,  as  warm  a  Secessionist,  as  her  brother- 
ly -law.  Both  were  feared  and  reverenced  by  their  Secession  neigh- 
bors, and  both  were  heartily  detested  by  the  Unionists  within  the 
circle  of  their  acquaintance. 

Up  to  the  time  of  which  we  are  now  writing,  the  Unionists  and 
Secessionists  of  this  vicinity  had  not  come  to  any  open  and  serious 
rupture.  The  mutually  exposed  and  accessible  situation  of  their 
property  had,  in  a  great  measure,  tended  to  restrain  the  violent  pas- 
sions that  were  burning  in  their  breasts,  for  they  feared  the  injuries 
which  each  might  do  the  other,  and  they  well  knew  that,  under 
the  existing  state  of  affairs,  these  injuries  would  be  irreparable. 
But  it  was  evident  to  all  that  the  plot  was  thickening,  and  the  time 
was  not  far  distant  when  the  mutterings  and  threatenings  of  the 
storm  must  be  exchanged  for  the  storm  itself. 

In  addition  to  the  sister-in-law  above  mentioned,  the  family  of 

O'Kane  consisted  of  a  niece,  the  daughter  of  a  deceased  brother, 

who  had  died  in  New  Orleans  of  a  prevailing  epidemic.     He  left 

an  immense  fortune,  which  he  bequeathed  to  this  daughter  and  her 

heirs,  if  she  left  issue;  but  in  case  she  died  childless,  the  whole 

should  revert  to   O'Kane  and  his    heirs.      The   uncle  was   made 

guardian  to  his  niece,  and  executor  of  the  last  will  and  testament 

of  the  deceased.     Cora  O'Kane  was    scarcely  seventeen,  yet  she 

possessed  remarkable  beauty.      She  was  above  the  ordinary  size, 

and  her  form,  although  not  gross,  was  large  and  voluptuous.     Her 

countenance  owed  not  its  attractions  so  much  to  symmetrical  "  rule 

and  compass  "  dimensions  and  proportions,  as  it  did  to  the  peculiar 

land  winning  expression  which  it  wore.     Her  eye,  a  dark  hazel, 

could  express  every  passion,  from  the  tenderest  emotions   of  the 

soul  to  the  wildest  bursts  of  enthusiasm  and  resentment.     Her  hair 

was  dark  and  glossy,  and  she  usually  wore  it  destitute  of  curls  or 

ornament,  and  in  such  a  manner  as  developed  the  beautiful  and 

classical  proportions  of  her  head.     In  early  infancy  she  had  lost 

her  mother,  yet  her  father  had  spared  no  pains  or  expense  in  the 

culture   and  training  of  her  mind. 

w 


6  CORA  O'KANE,    OR 

Cora  had  been  a  resident  of  the  house  of  her  uncle  some  three 
years  previous  to  1860,  and  although  her  situation,  destitute  of 
father  and  mother,  was  such  as  would  readily  command  the  sym- 
pathy of  almost  any  individual,  yet  she  had  experienced  but  sorry 
treatment  at  the  hands  of  her  guardian  and  the  "  withered  crone " 
she  was  obliged  to  call  aunt.  She  well  knew  the  cause  of  this 
treatment,  for,  young  as  she  was,  she  possessed  sufficient  penetra- 
tion to  read  the  character  of  her  uncle ;  and  she  knew  that  his 
whole  life  was  bound  up  in  political  distinction  and  the  acquire- 
ment of  wealth.  She  knew,  also,  although  nothing  had  been  said 
to  her  directly  upon  the  subject,  that  it  was  the  intention  of  her 
uncle  to  wed  her  to  his  son,  —  who  was  at  this  time  absent,  re- 
ceiving his  education, — thereby  securing  to  his  own  family  the 
estate  which  she  possessed ;  but,  in  her  own  mind,  she  had  deter- 
mined to  die  rather  than  consent  to  the  union.  She  always  undis- 
guisedly  manifested  an  aversion  for  him,  and  she  well  knew  that 
such  conduct  chagrined  and  mortified  the  uncle  and  aunt.  She  was 
also  a  warm  Unionist.  Her  whole  soul  was  enlisted  in  the  cause 
Of  the  loyal  people,  and  she  sought  not  to  disguise  this  fact  from 
her  uncle.  These  causes,  she  justly  concluded,  led  the  uucle  to 
treat  her  with  severity. 

Her  cousin,  William  O'Kane,  whose  amorous  addresses  she  had 
rejected,  was  a  tall,  ill-formed  youth  of  some  twenty  years,  with 
coarse,  repulsive  features,  and  in  disposition  equally  as  overbearing 
as  his  father.  He  was  strongly  conceited  in  favor  of  his  own 
person  and  understanding,  and  seemed,  in  fact,  to  regard  himself 
as  the  embodiment  of  all  that  was  beautiful  and  desirable.  His 
political  opinions  were  the  same  as  his  father's;  and,  indeed,  the 
astonishing  ingenuity  which  he  displayed  in  insulting  and  torment- 
in«*  his  Union  neighbors  was  the  very  circumstance  that  had  induced 
his  father  to  send  him  away  to  be  educated.  He  was  utterly  inca- 
pacitated naturally  from  forming  an  attachment  which  could  call 
forth  any  of  the  finer  and  nobler  feelings  of  man's  nature ;  yet  he 
had  been  heard  to  say  that  his  cousin  Cora  "  was  tolerably  good 
looking,  and  as  rich  as  Cassar."  Undoubtedly  the  youth  imagined 
this,  coming  as  it  did  from  his  noble  self,  as  a  compliment  of  no 
trifling  importance,  and  as  one  that  was  to  commend  him  especially 
to  the  young  lady  concerning  whom  it  had  been  spoken.  When  he 
was  last  at  home,  his  father  had  disclosed  to  him  his  intentions  in 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  7 

relation  to  his  union  with  Cora,  and  he  was  instructed  to  report 
himself  at  home  at  the  next  vacation  in  order  that  the  nuptials 
might  be  celebrated.  Accustomed  to  an  unlimited  control  in  all 
things,  he  did  not  deem  it  of  the  least  importance  to  consult  his 
niece  upon  a  matter  which  involved  so  vital  and  important  an  inter- 
est of  hers. 

During  the  spring  of  1861,  Thomas  O'Kane,  in  connection  with 
John  McBride  and  other  Secession  leaders,  was  employed  in  arran- 
ging and  disposing  of  plans  for  the  prosecution  of  the  war,  which, 
it  was  now  obvious  to  the  commonest  understanding,  would  shortly 
be  upon  them.  The  Unionists  of  this  vicinity  were  not  idle  in  the 
mean  time.  As  we  have  before  stated,  they  were  few  in  number ; 
but  in  determination  and  enthusiasm  they  were  a  host.  They  held 
frequent  meetings  in  private  and  secluded  places,,  being  determined 
to  establish  as  good  and  effective  an  organization  as  the  circum- 
stances of  the  case  would  allow. 

About  half  way  between  Osceola  and  Warsaw,  and  but  a  few 
rods  from  the  banks  of  the  Osage,  was  the  cabin  of  a  young 
hunter,  who  was  known  among  the  settlers  by  the  name  of  Marvin 
Wilson.  He  first  came  into  this  region  some  three  years  previous 
to  the  opening  of  this  narrative;  and  although  his  language,  his 
bearing,  and  indeed  his  whole  appearance,  denoted  that  he  had  been 
highly  educated,  and  reared  in  the  first  society,  yet  he  proceeded  to 
erect  a  cabin  for  himself  in  a  secluded  spot,  and  immediately  after 
assumed  the  guise  of  a  hunter  —  pursuing  any  and  all  game  whose 
fur  was  in  the  least  degree  valuable.  He  was  tall,  nobly  propor- 
tioned, with  a  countenance  and  aspect  that  at  once  convinced  the 
beholder  that  he  was  no  ordinary  individual.  His  eye  was  large 
and  piercing,  his  forehead  high  and  ample,  and  his  raven  hair  hung 
in  long,  glossy  ringlets  around  a  neck  that  might  have  furnished 
a  painter  with  a  model.  There  was  nothing  aristocratic  or  over- 
bearing in  his  action  or  language,  yet  he  seemed  formed  to  lead, 
and  all  who  came  into  his  presence  felt  that  they  were  willing  to 
obey.  He  dressed,  in  pursuance  of  his  vocation,  in  a  kind  of  semi- 
military  style,  and  his  rifle  was  his  never-failing  attendant.  All  in 
all,  he  was  as  noble  and  elegant  a  specimen  of  manhood  as  eye  could 
wish  to  gaze  upon. 

His  cabin  was  built  at  the  base  of  a  rocky  eminence  that  rose 
abrubtly  from  the  shores  of  the  river,  and  was  composed  in  part  of 


8  CORA  O'KANE,   OR 

logs,  and  partly  of  the  hill  itself,  which  had  been  excavated  for  that 
purpose,  afterwards  lined  securely  with  logs,  roughly  squared  with 
an  axe,  and  covered  with  the  skins  of  deer  and  other  animals.  A 
small  door,  one  part  of  which  served  also  as  a  window,  afforded 
ingress  and  egress,  and  just  above  the  bark  roof  of  the  wooden 
part  of  the  edifice  passed  a  rough  stone  chimney.  His  furniture 
consisted  of  two  rough-made  stools,  a  bench,  or  table,  to  match,  a 
small  Indian  looking-glass,  a  kettle,  and  one  or  two  coarse  culinary 
utensils.  His  bed,  which  was  placed  in  the  excavated  portion  of  the 
cabin,  was  composed  entirely  of  the  skins  of  animals.  On  a  shelf, 
that  stretched  nearly  around  the  whole  apartment,  was  a  razor  and 
comb,  and  a  few  other  articles  of  the  toilet,  and  just  beside  the 
door  was  a  huge  fireplace,  which  did  infinite  credit  to  the  prevail- 
ing fashion  in  relation  to  such  indispensable  appurtenances. 

Here,  in  this  secluded  place,  Marvin  Wilson  had  lived  since  his 
advent  into  this  region.  None  knew  whence  he  came,  or  what  his 
former  life  had  been.  He  was  about  twenty-eight  years  of  age, 
which  he  manifested  no  anxiety  to  conceal ;  but  when  questioned  in 
relation  to  his  connections  or  former  residence,  his  brow  became 
gloomy,  and  his  answers  were  such  as  caused  his  interrogators  to 
desist  from  their  scrutiny.  Marvin  Wilson  was  a  strong  Unionist, 
and  he  possessed  a  powerful  and  persuasive  eloquence,  and  a  keen 
and  biting  satire,  which  he  used  fearlessly  upon  all  occasions  in 
favor  of  his  adopted  state  remaining  in  the  Union.  He  was  fairly 
adored  by  his  Union  friends,  who  made  him  their  leader ;  and  at  the 
fall  election,  prior  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  he  was 
elected  to  the  legislature  from  his  precinct,  and  manfully  did  battle 
for  the  Union  cause.  When  he  returned  from  the  capital,  in  March, 
he  found  that  Thomas  O'Kane  had  taken  a  decided  stand  in  favor" 
of  secession.  Up  to  this  time  Marvin  had  been  acknowledged  a 
guest  at  the  house  of  O'Kane.  He  was  now  acknowledged  and 
allowed  as  such  no  longer.  It  was  more  than  rumored  that  Cora 
O'Kane  and  Marvin  were  inexpressibly  dear  to  each  other,  although 
from  the  watchfulness  of  the  uncle  it  was  impossible  for  them  to 
enjoy  anything  like  uninterrupted  communication.  Rumor  or  no 
rumor,  it  is  certain  that  when  the  name  of  Cora  O'Kane  was  men- 
tioned, the  eyes  of  Marvin  brightened ;  and  when  Cora  gazed  upon 
him,  it  was  with  a  heightened  color  in  her  cheek,  and  a  heaving  at 
the  breast,  that  denoted  unusual  emotion. 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  9 

William's  vacation  at  last  arrived,  and,  punctual  to  the  require- 
ments of  his  father,  he  returned,  and  all  the  domestics  of  the  house 
were  busily  engaged  in  making  preparations  to  celebrate  the  nup- 
tials of  the  hopeful  youth  and  his  cousin.  g^ 


CHAPTER   II. 

Ix  about  a  week  after  the  announcement  had  been  made  that 
Marvin  Wilson's  presence  was  no  longer  desired  at  the  house  of 
O'Kane,  as  we  have  stated  in  the  previous  chapter,  Cora  was  sit- 
ting in  her  room,  pleasantly  engaged  in  reading,  when  her  uncle 
entered,  and  unceremoniously  seated  himself  by  her  side.  His 
brow  was  unusually  open  and  smooth,  and  a  famished-looking 
smile  was  struggling  for  a  resting-place  around  his  lips.  It  was 
plainly  evident  to  the  young  lady  that  some  enterprise  was  in  view 
which  her  gallant  uncle  was  intending  to  carry  by  smiles  and 
suavity.     After  a  short  interval  he  turned  to  her. 

"  Cora,"  said  he,  "  Cora,  my  child,  these  are  uncertain  and  very 
gloomy  times.  We  are  threatened  with  a  war,  through  the  mis- 
conduct of  a  few  hot-headed  and  deluded  men,  and  there  is  no 
telling  what  its  consequences  may  be  to  us.  We  may  be  ruined  by 
it,  my  child." 

Cora  particularly  noticed  the  endearing  appellation  of  "  my  child," 
which,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  the  uncle  had  bestowed  upon 
her.  She  thought  of  the  fable  of  the  wolf  and  the  lamb,  but  deter- 
mined not  to  be  outdone  by  her  relative  in  the  game  he  had  under- 
taken to  play. 

"  My  dear  uncle,"  she  answered,  "I  am  well  aware  that  these 
are  dangerous  times.  It  seems  to  me  that  if  we  continue  to  give 
aid  to  Secession,  and  persist  in  the  harsh  measures  of  our  leaders, 
war  will  inevitably  be  the  consequence." 

"  No,"  replied  the  uncle,  "  our  Confederate  leaders  are  not  in  the 
wrong ;  it  is  these  cursed,  low-born  Unionists.  There's  where  the 
difficulty  lies." 

"  I  am  sure,  uncle,  the  Unionists  ask  nothing  but  what  is  rea- 
sonable and  right,"  replied  Cora ;  "their  only  desire  is  to  remain  in 
peace  under  the  protection  of  the  old  flag,  and  adhere  to  the  institu- 
tions handed  down  to  them  by  their  fathers." 
2 


10  CORA  O'KANE,   OR 

The  brow  of  O'Kane  lowered,  but  recollecting  himself,  he  re- 
plied, — 

*  Well,  well,  we  will  not  discuss  politics,  Cora.     I  came  to  talk 

ith  you  on  a  more  pleasing  theme.  You  are  now,  let  me  see  — 
old  are  you,  Cora?" 

"I  am  a  little  past  seventeen,"  replied  she. 

"Yes,  yes,  I  might  have  known,"  continued  O'Kane,  musingly, 
"I  might  have  known ;  but  the  fact  is,  I  am  growing  old  and  for- 
getful. You  are  now  at  that  age  when  you  begin  to  —  a  —  want  a 
—  a  —  when,  in  short,  Miss  Cora,  nearly  all  young  women  want  a 
suitable  companion  of  the  opposite  sex.  Ha,  ha,  ha ! "  and  he 
forced  a  laugh  to  conceal  his  confusion. 

"I  must  confess,  uncle,"  replied  Cora,  slightly  coloring,  "that  I 
have  not  yet  experienced  the  want  of  any  such  companion  as  you 
have  set  forth." 

She  dropped  her  eyes  confusedly  as  she  concluded  her  reply,  for 
the  image  of  Marvin  flitted  past  her  mind's  eye. 

"The  want  is  not,  perhaps,  the  proper  term,"  continued  O'Kane, 
who  had  observed  the  emphasis  with  which  Cora  had  repeated  it. 
"I  should  have  said  desire,  perhaps." 

"  I  have  neither  experienced  desire  nor  want,"  replied  Cora,  in- 
tently gazing  at  nothing. 

"You  will  soon  be  eighteen  years  of  age,"  continued  O'Kane, 
"  and  then,  according  to  my  brother's  will,  you  are  to  enter  upon 
the  possession  of  your  fortune.  You  are  very  young,  Cora,  to 
manage  so  large  a  sum  prudently,  and  I  had  come  to  the  conclu- 
sion to  offer  you  a  young  man  as  a  husband  who  would  be  most 
likely  to  manage  your  property  in  a  way  the  most  conducive  to  your 
happiness  and  enjoyment.  You  ought  to  know,  Cora,  that  this  is 
not  with  me  a  matter  of  interest,  for  in  case  you  should  die  without 
heirs,  the  property  reverts  to  me,  or,  should  I  be  dead  before  you, 
to  my  heirs." 

"I  am  willing  to  give  you  credit  for  perfect  disinterestedness," 
replied  Cora,  "  but,  my  dear  uncle,  I  choose  to  marry  whom  and 
when  I  please." 

O'Kane  bit  his  lips  at  this  announcement,  and  a  pause  of  a 
few  moments  ensued.  At  length  he  resumed,  in  a  melancholy 
tone, — 

"  You  are  the  only  child,  Cora,  of  my  only  brother,  and  I  am 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  11 

sure  I  may  be  pardoned  for  interfering  in  your  arrangements.  My 
brother  often  wrote  to  me  in  his  letters  that  nothing  would  give 
him  so  much  happiness  as  to  see  our  families  united  by  the  strongest 
ties  of  affinity  and  friendship,  lie's  gone  now,  poor  fellow  "  (her^^ 
he  dropped  a  tear) ,  "  yet,  if  we  are  aught  in  heaven  as  we  are  ofl 
earth,  he  must  desire  so  pleasant  a  state  of  allairs.  I  will  nut  con- 
ceal from  you  the  fact  that  my  son  William  loves  you,  and  is  willing 
and  anxious  to  become  your  protector ;  and  I  will  not  deny  that  1 
had  fondly  anticipated  such  an  event." 

The  allusion  to  her  father  brought  the  tears  to  the  eyes  of  Cora, 
and  when  her  uncle  concluded  his  hypocritical  speech,  she  was  still 
in  tears.  She  determined,  however,  to  put  a  final  end  to  any  such 
anticipations  as  O'Kane  had  described,  and  she  answered  accordingly. 

"I  should  be  glad  of  an  opportunity  of  accommodating  my  uncle, 
but,  in  this  particular,  I  cannot.  I  never  can  be  the  wife  of  William. 
I  love  him  not,  and  can  never  love  him ;  and  I  beg,  sir,  that  this 
may  be  the  last  time  you  will  ever  speak  to  me  on  the  subject." 

"  I'll  be  d — d  if  you  shall  not  have  him  !  "  exclaimed  O'Kane  furi- 
ously, striking  his  fist  against  a  small  table  standing  near  with  such 
violence  that  it  fell  upon  the  floor.  "  I'll  be  hanged  if  you  shall  not 
have  him  !  Your  mind  has  been  poisoned  with  the  infernal  doc- 
trines of  the  Unionists.  That  accursed  adventurer,  Wilson,  would 
perhaps  suit  the  fastidious  taste  of  your  ladyship  better  !  But  you 
are  yet  under  my  control,  thank  God  !  " 

The  fury  of  her  uncle  somewhat  alarmed  Cora ;  but  as  it  was 
not  quite  unexpected,  she  soon  recovered  herself,  and  somewhat 
proudly  replied,  — 

"  Your  son  must  rejoice  in  the  man  he  has  selected  as  his  wooer. 
Oaths  and  gesticulations  go  far  to  win  the  heart  of  a  timid  girl  !  " 

O'Kane  saw  at  a  glance  where  he  had  missed  his  calculation,  but 
it  was  too  late  to  go  back.  His  violent  passions  had  obtained  the 
mastery.     He  therefore  said,  — 

"Taunt  me  not,  madam,  for  you  cannot  elude  me.  1  have  you 
fast,  and  there  are  none  to  scrutinize  or  ask  the  cause  of  my  conduct. 
I  tell  you  again  that  you  shall  wed  my  son  or  you  shall  never  wed. 
I  am  not  the  man  to  jest.     I  am  one  who  resolves  and  executes." 

"  It  is  not  my  poor  person  that  your  son  covets,"  replied  Cora ; 
n  it  is  my  property.  I  feel  confident  that  my  fortune  would  satisfy 
him,  and  I  am  willing  this  night  to  convey  it  all,  every  farthing,  to 


12  CORA   O'KAKE,    OR 

him,  provided  his  father  will  never  again  bring  up  to  me  the  subject 
of  my  union  with  him.  Take  the  whole  ;  I  give  it  freely,  rejoi- 
cingly." 
^^  This  annunciation  cut  O'Kane  to  the  quick.  He  was  naturally  a 
^froud  man,  and  when  he  saw  that  Cora  had  so  correctly  divined 
the  power  of  her  attractions,  he  felt  mortified,  and,  despite  his  lack 
of  shame,  looked  abashed.  Lowering  his  tone  materially,  however, 
he  replied,  — 

"  My  son  is  not  a  beggar,  madam  ;  neither  will  he  be  portionless 
ii  he  arrives  at  his  majority.      This  sarcasm  will  not  materially 
advantage  you,  you  may  depend  upon  it.      My  word  in  regard  to 
your  union  is  passed.     I  never,  never  retract.'*' 

As  he  concluded  speaking,  he  turned  on  his  heel  and  quitted  the 
apartment,  leaving  Cora  alone. 

Her  feelings  mav  be  better  imagined  than  described.  She  wag 
completely  in  the  power  of  her  uncle,  and  she  saw  no  way  to  escape 
the  odious  union  :  yet  she  determined,  at  all  hazards,  to  brave  her 
uncle's  wrath,  and,  in  fact,  to  die  rather  than  submit  to  his  require- 
ments. In  the  midst  of  her  perplexities  the  door  again  opened, 
and  her  aunt  entered.  Seating  herself  in  an  unoccupied  chair,  and 
pursing  up  her  mouth  to  the  smallest  possible  dimensions,  she  thus 
addressed  Cora  :  — 

"  So,  miss,  you  have  refused  to  accept  the  offer  of  your  kind 
uncle  —  eh?  A  pretty  thing,  truly!  A  young  girl,  like  you, 
refuse  an  offer  of  that  kind  !  Things  have  come  to  a  pretty  pass, 
indeed ! " 

The  hag  here  made  a  slight  pause,  and  gazed  fiercely  at  Cora, 
who  sat  silent  and  weeping.     Giving  her  head  a  toss,  she  resumed,  — 

"  I  wonder  what  you  can  think  of  yourself,  miss  !  I  wonder  what 
plans  you  have  concocted  for  your  future  existence  !  May  be  you 
think  to  get  a  lord,  or  a  duke,  or  some  other  great  man  !  I  declare, 
if  I  ain't  beat !  Eefuse  Mr.  William  !  I  guess  a  girl  of  your  age 
in  my  day  would  never  refuse  such  an  offer  as  that." 

In  this  strain  Miss  Eebecca  (for  so  the  aunt  was  called)  contin- 
ued to  berate  the  poor  girl  until  she  exhausted  her  own  breath,  and 
was  obliged  to  give  it  up.  To  all  her  taunts,  Cora  replied  not  a 
word ;.  and  when,  in  a  short  time  after  the  conclusion  of  her  last 
endeavor,  her  aunt  retired,  she  sought  her  bed,  but  not  to  sleep. 

A  hundred  different  plans  her  tortured  ingenuity  suggested  whereby 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  13 

she  could  escape  from  the  persecution  of  her  uncle ;  but  her  reason 
rejected  them  all.  At  one  time  she  resolved  to  acquaint  Wilson  with 
the  whole  atfair ;  but,  upon  second  thought,  her  modesty  forbade  it. 
At  another  time  she  resolved  to  fly  from  beneath  her  uncle's  roof; 
then  her  reason  asked  her  where  she  should  go,  and  by  what  instru- 
mentality escape.  In  this  manner  she  lay  and  planned,  and  arranged 
and  rearranged,  until  morning,  when  she  arose  feverish  and  unre- 
freshed.  She  met  her  uncle  and  her  cousin  at  the  breakfast  table 
with  fear  and  trembling ;  but  the  meal  passed  off  in  silence,  nor 
could  she  detect  a  ray  upon  the  countenance  of  either  which  could 
afford  her  the  slightest  clew  as  to  what  conclusion  her  conduct  of 
the  previous  night  had  caused  them  to  arrive. 

For  several  weeks  she  lived  in  constant  dread  of  a  renewal  of 
her  cousin's  suit ;  yet  she  was  disappointed.  Not  a  word  was  spoken 
upon  the  subject  by  either  her  uncle  or  her  cousin,  and  even  old 
Rebecca  had  ceased  to  make  it  the  groundwork  of  her  diurnal  lec- 
tures. Cora  flattered  herself  that  the  hateful  match  was  forgotten, 
that  her  uncle  had  thought  better  of  his  duty  and  his  interest,  and* 
she  began  to  be  even  cheerful  and  comparatively  happy.  Nay,  she 
even  could  bear  the  presence  of  Mr.  William,  and  frequently  engaged 
him  in  some  of  the  lighter  amusements  of  the  moment.  Poor  girl ! 
with  all  her  tact,  she  knew  not  with  what  a  monster  she  was  dealing. 


CHAPTER   III. 

It  was  not  far  from  the  middle  of  June  that  O'Kane  returned 
home  from  a  few  days'  absence.  He  had  been  raising  troops  for  the 
defence  of  the  Confederate  authorities  in  the  state.  The  inmates  of 
the  house  gathered  around  him  in  silence  as  he  related  to  them  how 
well  they  had  got  their  state  guards  organized,  and  his  hopes  of 
success.  And,  as  Cora  came  down  to  greet  him,  he  said  very 
emphatically  that  all  Lincoln's  minions  in  Missouri  must  bow  to  the 
superiority  of  his  Confederate  guards. 

"  My  dear  father,"  said  William,  "inasmuch  as  you  are  to  be  at 
home  for  a  few  days,  what  say  you  for  inviting  our  neighbors  and 
friends,  and  having  a  sociable  here?  " 

To  this  he  readily  assented,  and  the  rest  of  the  day  was  occupied 
in  making  preparations  for  the  dance.     The  next  morning,  at  an 


14  CORA  O'KANE,   OR 

early  hour,  all  was  bustle  arouDd  the  house.  The  servants,  with 
their  shining  black  faces,  were  running  to  and  fro  from  the  kitchen 
to  other  parts  of  the  house,  while  on  the  lawn  around  the  house 
seats  were  prepared  for  the  invited  guests,  and  grinning  Africans, 
with  cracked  fiddles  in  their  hands,  were  waiting  for  the  company  to 
assemble  on  the  lawn  —  which  they  did  early  in  the  forenoon.  The 
exercises  commenced  with  a  spirited  political  harangue  by  Colonel 
O'Kane  on  the  righteousness  of  the  Confederate  cause  ;  after  which 
the  celebrated  ballad,  "  Success  to  the  Bonnie  Blue  Flag,"  was  sung 
by  the  whole  company,  with  Sambo  playing  the  accompaniment  on 
his  cracked  fiddle.  The  dancing  now  commenced,  and  all  went 
merry  as  a  marriage  bell.  After  the  dancing  ceased,  the  company 
were  treated  to  a  luxurious  feast  that  was  served  up  to  them  on  tables 
in  the  open  air.  They  had  not  fairly  commenced  feasting  when  the 
attention  of  the  whole  company  was  directed  to  a  skiff  which  was 
rapidly  advancing  in  the  river  from  the  direction  of  Warsaw.  In 
her  bow  waved  the  "bonnie  blue  flag."  As  the  boat  neared  the 
land,  in  the  direction  of  the  house,  in  a  few  moments  her  slight  keel 
grated  upon  the  pebbly  shore,  and  three  men  leaped  upon  the  sward 
and  hastened  towards  the  table.  No  sooner  had  they  arrived  within 
speaking  distance  than  Colonel  O'Kane'addressed  them. 

"  What  news  do  you  bring  r  " 

After  the  sergeant  had  saluted  him,  he  said  that  General  Frost 
and  his  men  had  been  surprised  by  six  thousand  Unionists  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  Blair,  and  he,  of  course,  had  to  surrender. 

"  Were  you  there  at  the  time?"  asked  Colonel  O'Kane. 

"  No,  sir ;  I  had  been  detached  to  the  headquarters  of  General 
Price,  as  an  orderly,  and  here  is  a  note  from  him." 

The  colonel  seized  the  note  with  a  trembling  hand,  tore  open  the 
envelope,  and  read  aloud  as  follows  :  — 

"  Boonville,  June  28. 
"  Dear  Coloxel  :  General  Frost  has  got  into  a  tight  place,  and 
with  him  are  gobbled  up  the  munitions  and  guns  that  arrived  so  lately 
from  the  Baton  Bouge  Arsenal  for  our  use.  Therefore  I  command 
yon  to  remain  in  your  vicinity  and  recruit  as  many  men  as  you  pos- 
sibly can,  and  we  will  contrive  to  provide  you  with  equipments  as 
fast  as  possible.  You  are  promoted  as  colonel  of  this  special  Guard, 
with  the  rank  of  brigadier  general ;  and  as  you  already  retain  the 


THE  DOOM   OF   TIIE   REBEL   GUARD.  15 

civil  office  of  magistrate  in  your  county,  we  give  you  the  power  to 
try  and  hang  any  man  that  dares  to  usurp  your  power  or  thwart 
you  in  your  course.  Yours,  respectfully, 

w  Sterling  Price, 

"Major  General  of  the  State  Forces" 

"  Then,"  said  the  colonel,  folding  up  the  letter,  "  I  am  to  be  the 
commander  of  a  special  guard,  and  tvoe  to  the  man  or  men  that  will 
not  enlist  at  my  command  and  make  obeisance  to  the  bonnie  blue 
flag.  And  be  assured,  my  friends,"  he  said,  turning  around  to  his 
visitors,  they  being  all  Secessionists,  "this  vicinity  shall  be  cleared 
of  these  accursed  free-labor  men  and  Unionists  before  the  next  three 
months."  Then  stepping  to  one  of  the  tables  he  seized  a  bottle  of 
wine,  and  said,  "  Let  us  drink  a  bumper  to  the  noble  Guard  we  are 
going  to  raise." 

He  was  here  interrupted  by  the  loud  baying  of  two  hounds  in  the 
forest,  apparently  but  a  few  rods  south  of  the  house.  The  whole 
group  turned  their  heads  in  the  direction  of  the  sound,  and  in  a  few 
moments  a  noble  buck  bounded  into  view,  instantly  followed  by  two 
dogs,  all  making  directly  for  the  river.  It  was  apparent  that  the 
deer  was  nearly  spent,  yet  he  dashed  past  the  group  of  gazers  with- 
out appearing  to  notice  them,  and,  clearing  the  fence  at  the  lowest 
end  of  the  yard,  struck  boldly  into  the  river,  closely  pursued  by  the 
dogs. 

"Whose  dogs  are  those?"  questioned  O'Kane,  eagerly  gazing  at 
the  exciting  scene. 

"  They  are  Marvin  Wilson's,  father,"  replied  William.  "  I  have 
often  seen  them  follow  him." 

"  Marvin  Wilson's  !  "  exclaimed  O'Kane,  anxiously  turning  to  his 
son.     "  How  came  they  here,  I  wonder?  " 

w  Probably  he's  close  at  hand  himself,"  responded  the  son.  "  Per- 
haps my  cousin  Cora  knows  if  that  be  the  case  ?  " 

All  eyes  were  turned  upon  that  young  lady,  who  suddenly  grew 
deadly  pale,  and  both  dogs  and  deer  were  forgotten. 

"  I  know  nothing  at  all  about  it,"  she  said,  faintly,  seeing  that  she 
was  expected  to  speak.  "  My  cousin  knows  that  I  have  no  oppor- 
tunity of  being  acquainted  with  the  movements  of  Mr.  Wilson." 

"  It's  to  be  hoped  that  he'll  follow  his  dogs,"  exclaimed  O'Kane, 
fiercely.  "I  think  we'll  make  his  welcome  comfortably  warm  — 
won't  we  boys,  eh?" 


16  CORA   O'KANE,   OR 

"  Ay,  ay,"  responded  the  guests. 

"  Well,  if  you've  got  through  talking  with  those  men,  I  can't  see 
what  use  there  is  in  letting  the  dinner  spoil  for  the  sake  of  Marvin 
"Wilson,"  exclaimed  aunt  Rebecca,  in  something  of  a  rage. 

"  That's  true,  sister,"  replied  O'Kane.  "Come,  my  friends,  let's 
renew  our  meal,"  he  added,  turning  to  his  guests.  "And  here  you, 
William,  give  our  worthy  friends  from  General  Price  something  to 
drink,  and  see  that  they  be  well  provided  with  eatables." 

The  whole  company  again  seated  themselves  at  the  table,  and  in 
a  short  time  the  meal  was  despatched.  Soon  after  the  conclusion 
of  the  feast,  the  party  was  again  assembled  upon  the  shore  to  wit- 
ness the  embarkation  of  General  Price's  men,  who  were  now  about 
to  return  to  that  officer's  headquarters.  The  boat  was  ready  to 
shove  off,  and  O'Kane  was  freighting  the  ears  of  the  sergeant  with 
intelligence  and  messages  for  General  Price,  when  a  slight  scream 
from  some  of  the  junior  female  members  of  the  party  attracted  the 
attention  of  all. 

"What's  the  matter?"  suddenly  exclaimed  O'Kane,  partially 
turning  round. 

"  See  yonder,  father ! "  said  William,  pointing  with  a  trembling 
finger  in  the  direction  of  the  barns. 

The  whole  party  simultaneously  gazed  in  the  direction  designated 
by  the  young  man,  and  observed  the  finely-proportioned  figure  of 
Marvin  Wilson  slowly  approaching.  He  was  dressed  in  a  plain 
green  hunting-shirt,  with  buckskin  underclothes  and  moccasins^ 
with  a  rifle  thrown  carelessly  across  his  arm.  He  evidently  saw  the 
group  near  the  river,  yet  he  steadily  held  on  his  way  towards  them. 
The  countenance  of  O'Kane  grew  dark  and  frowning,  the  female 
portion  of  the  company  looked  anxious  and  timid,  and  the  whole 
assembly  awaited  his  approach  in  silence.  In  a  few  moments  the 
young  hunter  approached  them,  and  turning  to  the  ladies  with  a 
smile  and  a  bow,  exclaimed,  — 

"  Good  afternoon,  ladies  and  gentlemen.  Do  not  let  me  inter- 
rupt your  pleasures.  I  would  merely  inquire  if  any  of  you  have 
seen  two  dogs  pass  this  way  in  pursuit  of  game  ?  " 

"  Who  the  devil  are  you,  that  talk  of  interrupting  our  sports  in 
this  cavalier  manner?"  coarsely  replied  O'Kane.  "  Do  you  know 
where  you  are,  sirrah?" 

"  I  thought  I  was  upon  the  premises  of  a  gentleman,"  calmly 
replied  Wilson,  "but  I  see  I  am  mistaken." 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  RE^EL  GUARD.  17 

"None  of  your  wit  at  the  expense  of  me  or  my  guests,  caitiff! " 
retorted  O'Kane,  "  Those  who  seek  to  imbrue  their  hands  in  the 
blood .  of  their  neighbors  can  expect  courtesy  from  the  hands  of  no 
one." ' 

"Then  you  should  take  no  offence  at  my  interruption,"  exclaimed 
Wilson,  slightly  kindling. 

"  Come  on  ;    let's  flog  him  !  "  fiercely  cried  O'Kane. 

"Yes,  yes,"  responded  several  of  the  bystanders,  "  that's  the  sort ! 
flog  the  scoundrel !  " 

A  slight  oroan  resounded  from  the  knot  of  females,  and  Cora 
O'Kane  fell  to  the  ground  senseless.  She  was  immediately  raised 
in  the  arms  of  some  of  her  companions,  whilst  others  stepped  to  the 
river's  brink  for  water.     In  a  few  moments  she  revived. 

"  You  had  better  take  Cora  to  the  house,  Kebecca,"  said  O'Kane. 
"  It  may  hurt  her  conscience  to  see  a  Unionist  justly  dealt  by." 

Eebecca  proceeded  to  lead  Cora  towards  the  house,  followed  by 
all  the  females  of  the  group.  As  the  trembling  girl  passed  Wilson, 
she  gave  him  a  glance  that  penetrated  to  his  inmost  heart.  It  spoke 
to  his  understanding  more  than  volumes  could  reveal.  As  soon  as 
the  females  left  the  ground,  O'Kane  again  turned  and  addressed  him- 
self to  Wilson. 

"  I  will  tell  you,  young  sir,  in  order  that  you  may  know  the  rea- 
sons for  our  conduct,  that  we  are  perfectly  acquainted  with  your 
character  and  designs.  You  are  a  base  and  murderous  Unionist, 
and  are  this  moment  enga —  " 

. "  That  I  am  a  Union  man  I  will  never  deny,"  fiercely  interrupted 
Wilson,  his  eye  flashing  fire ;  "but  whoever  says  I  am  base  or  mur- 
derous is  a  liar  in  his  throat !  "  * 

O'Kane's  inflamed  features  paled  at  this  fierce  annunciation,  but, 
casting  his  eye  upon  the  group  of  sturdy  men  by  whom  he  was  sur- 
rounded, he  continued,  not  noticing  the  interruption,  —  "  this  mo- 
ment engaged  in  a  plot  with  another  lawless  marauder  to  murder  all 
the  Confederates  in  this  vicinity.  Can  you  deny  this  charge,  villain 
that  you  are?"  he  added,  with  a  malicious  grin. 

"How  brave  a  coward  can  be  when  supported  by  bands  of  friends  ! " 
sneeringly  replied  Wilson,  at  the  same  time  pointing  a  finger  at 
O'Kane.  "  Give  me  but  a  chance  for  fair  play,"  he  continued,  "  I 
pledge  myself  to  make  you  acknowledge  what  you  have  asserted 
now  to  be  as  base  a  lie  as  your  black  heart  can  conceive." 
3 


18  CORA   O'KANE,    OR 

"  Have  a  care  what  you  say,  villain,  for  you  are  in  my  powei , 
and  I  could  string  you  to  the  first  tree  in  the  forest  if  I  chose.  Have 
a  care  ! " 

"  Have  a  care  !  "  sneeringly  responded  Wilson  ;  "  another  evidence 
of  your  dastardly  cowardice  !  Threaten  a  man  when  you  are  sur- 
rounded with  forces  in  abundance  !  I  know  not  what  you  may 
choose  to  do  with  me,  nor  do  I  fear  for  the  consequences  ;  but  this 
much  I  do  know  ;  one  among  your  number  is  a  dead  man  if  any  of 
you  dare  assault  my  person." 

Saving"*this,  Wilson  brought  his  rifle  aport,  and  was  about  setting 
back  the  cock,  when  Sergeant  Hughes,  who  had  crept  behind  him 
unperceived,  threw  both  his  arms  violently  around  his  waist,  and 
the  rifle  fell  to  the  ground.  It  was  immediately  seized  by  one  of 
the  bystanders,  who  discharged  it  in  the  air  and  threw  it  upon  the 
grass.  A  violent  struggle  ensued  between  Wilson  and  Hughes ; 
but  the  mass  coming  to  the  assistance  of  the  sergeant,  Wilson  was 
soon  overpowered  and  thrown  upon  the  ground.  His  hands  and 
feet  were  next  securely  bound  with  a  strong  rope,  which  was  pro- 
vided by  O'Kane,  and  he  was  then  left  to  struggle  at  his  leisure. 
The  Confederates  speedily  formed  a  ring  around  him,  and  stood 
gazing  upon  him  with  evident  delight. 

"What  do  you  say  to  shooting  folks  now,  you  d — d  scoundrel?" 
said  Hughes,  who  was  standing  just  outside  the  ring,  half  bent, 
while  the  blood  ran  from  his  nose  in  a  stream. 

rr  Let's  make  him  huzza  for  Jeff  Davis  !  "  shouted  William,  gaz- 
ing exultingly  upon  his  fallen  rival. 

"  Huzza  !  glorious  !  "  shouted  a  dozen  voices.  "  Make  him 
huzza  for  Jeff  Davis.  'Twill  do  his  Yankee  throat  good,  though 
it  disgraces  Davis's  name." 

"  Let's  tie  him  to  one  of  the  pines,"  cried  William  ;  "  and  then, 
my  boys,  we'll  flog  him  until  he  huzzas." 

w  Glorious  !  "  shouted  the  rabble  ;  and  away  they  ran  —  some  for 
ropes,  with  which  to  secure  him  to  the  tree,  and  others  for  whips, 
to  force  him  to  a  compliance  with  their  wishes. 

Wilson  lay  upon  the  ground  during  this  brutal  arrangement  with 
his  eyes  closed.  He  felt  it  was  in  vain  to  struggle.  He  knew  he 
was  completely  in  the  power  of  his  enemies.  His  rage  in  the  first 
instauce  was  almost  unbounded,  but  he  gradually  worked  himself 
calm.     He  was  possessed  of  strong,  nay,  violent,  passions ;  yet  he 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  19 

was  a  person  of  reason  and  reflection.  lie  was  utterly  insensible 
to  fear ;  yet  when  he  heard  them  announce  their  determination  of 
flossing  him,  an  unusual  sensation  crossed  his  breast.  It  was  not 
fear,  yet  it  was  a  sort  of  disgusted  dread  of  so  degrading  and  un- 
manly a  punishment.  In  his  present  situation  he  could  have  died 
without  a  murmur ;  yet  at  the  thought  of  being  flogged  like  a  dumb 
beast  his  whole  soul  revolted. 

In  a  short  time  a  shout  from  the  rebels  announced  that  the  ar- 
rangements for  tying  him  to  the  tree  were  all  completed,  and  in  a 
few  moments  he  was  borne  in  the  arms  of  some  half  a  dozen  of 
them,  and  placed  upon  his  feet  at  the  foot  of  a  small  pine  directly 
in  front  of  the  house.  His  coat  and  vest  were  then  stripped  off, 
and  he  was  securely  bound  to  the  gummy  trunk,  with  his  back  out- 
ward. A  pile  of  slim  green  limbs  of  sufficient  size  to  inflict  a  bitter 
wound  was  then  placed  by  his  side.  A  loud  call  from  "William  then 
summoned  his  companions  to  witness  the  w  sport,"  as  he  was  pleased 
to  term  it.  In  a  short  time  the  whole  squad  was  again  around  their 
prisoner,  all  wearing  looks  of  infinite  satisfaction.  Up  to  this  time 
Marvin  Wilson  had  not  spoken  a  word.  He  knew  from  the  first 
that  nothing  short  of  an  interposition  of  Providence  could  save  him 
from  his  punishment,  and  he  resolved  to  bear  it  in  silence.  But 
when  he  saw  the  arrangements  for  his  torture  all  complete,  and  the 
process  about  to  commence,  he  could  not  refrain  from  saying  a  few 
words.  Turning  his  head  from  the  tree  as  well  as  his  bonds  would 
permit,  he  caught  the  surly  eye  of  O'Kane,  and  to  him  he  addressed 
himself. 

"  O'Kane,"  said  he,  "  this  quarrel  seems  to  have  been  between 
you  and  me.  I  own  I  am  completely  in  your  power,  and  I  am  will- 
ing you  should  enjoy  the  advantage ;  but  for  God's  sake,  if  you  are 
determined  to  wreak  your  vengeance  upon  me,  do  it  like  a  Chris- 
tian, and  not  in  this  brutal  and  barbarous  manner.  Shoot  me,  if 
you  please,  or  hang  me." 

n  Hear  the  whining  cur  !  "  replied  O'Kane,  addressing  himself  to 
his  friends,  not  even  deigning  to  notice  his  prisoner.  "  What's  be- 
come of  the  fellow's  courage,  of  which  he  made  such  pompous  boasts 
but  a  few  minutes  since  ?     Now  he's  as  chicken-hearted  as  a  woman." 

"That's  the  truth,"  cried  Hughes,  stepping  up  to  the  pile  of  whips 
and  selecting  the  largest  he  could  find.  "I'll  teach  him  a  lesson, 
though.  I  claim  the  first  privilege  at  the  dastard,  as  I  received  the 
wounds  in_ securing  him." 


20  CORA  O'KATCE,    OR 

Hughes  raised  his  arm,  and  was  about  to  strike,  when  William 
shouted, — 

"  Hold,  Hughes  !  let's  call  the  girls,  that  they  may  witness  the 
sport.     The  fellow  has  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  gallant." 

Hughes  lowered  his  arm,  and  William  hallooed  loudly  for  the 
ladies.  They  rushed  to  the  door,  with  the  exception  of  Cora ;  but 
when  they  saw  Wilson,  and  the  brutal  preparations  with  which  he 
was  surrounded,  all,  save  Miss  Rebecca,  quickly  retired.  Hughes 
ao-ain  approached  the  prisoner,  and  all  was  silent.  He  stood  for  a 
moment  coolly  selecting  a  spot  upon  his  victim's  back  where  he 
might  most  cruelly  plant  his  first  blow,  and  then  he  raised  his  sin- 
ewy arm  and  the  blow  descended.  At  the  first  stroke  the  blood 
bedyed  the  prisoner's  shirt ;  but  blow  after  blow,  each  succeeding  the 
other  rapidly,  and  each  increasing  in  brutal  force,  fell  upon  his  back, 
until  Hughes  was  exhausted,  and  stepped  back  into  the  circle.  Wil- 
son's back  was  lacerated,  and  the  blood  flowed  in  streams ;  yet  he 
uttered  not  a  word.  A  few  big  and  scalding  tears  chased  each  other 
down  his  cheeks,  but  not  a  muscle  in  his  countenance  moved.  In 
a  few  moments  after  Hughes's  blows  had  ceased,  O'Kane  stepped 
into  the  circle,  and  selecting  a  whip,  thus  addressed  Wilson,  at  the 
same  time  preparing  to  participate  in  his  torture  :  — 

"What  say  you  now,  young  brave?  If  I  release  you,  will  you 
huzza  for  Jeff  Davis  ?  " 

"  Never,  by  the  eternal  God ! "  replied  Wilson,  in  a  voice  so 
calm,  yet  so  concentrated,  that  O'Kane  started  as  if  he  had  been 
stung  by  an  adder;  and  then,  as  if  ashamed  of  the  fear  he  had 
betrayed,  he  raised  his  arm  and  dealt  Wilson  a  severe  blow. 

"What  do  you  say  now?"  he  asked  again,  grinding  his  teeth. 

"As  you  give,  you  shall  receive,"  replied  Wilson,  in  the  same 
calm  tone  as  before. 

"  Bless  me,  but  the  fellow  is  game,  after  all,"  cried  Hughes. 
K  He  threatens  us  yet.  Huzza  for  Jeff*  Davis,  my  lad,"  he  contin- 
ued ;  ■  your  back  will  thank  you." 

Wilson  made  no  reply  to  this  unfeeling  speech,  and  O'Kane  was 
about  to  continue  his  torture,  when  the  sharp,  quick  cry  of  a  dog 
caused  all  to  start  and  to  turn  in  the  direction  of  the  sound.  The 
next  moment  the  two  dogs  which  had  passed  a  short  time  before  in 
pursuit  of  the  deer  dashed  into  the  circle  and  began  leaping  and 
fawning  upon  their  master.  Wilson  regarded  them  in  silence,  but 
the  big  tears  coursed  down  his  cheeks  in  rapid  succession. 


THE   DOOM   OF  TIIE   REBEL  GUAED.  21 

"Hang  the  clogs,"  cried  Hughes ;  "don't  let  them  stop  the  sport. 
Drive  them  from  the  ring." 

No*  one  stepped  forward  to  put  this  threat  into  execution,  and 
O'Kane  struck  the  prisoner  another  blow.  Scarcely  had  it  de- 
scended, however,  ere  the  dog  that  stood  nearest  his  master  seized 
the  human  brute  by  the  throat,  and  hurled  him  to  the  ground.  All 
instantly  rushed  to  the  rescue  of  O'Kane  ;  and  in  the  melee  which 
endued,  a  stranger  emerged  from  the  neighboring  forest  unobserved, 
and  approached  the  scene  of  strife.  He  exchanged  glances  of 
recognition  with  Wilson,  and  then  stood  calmly  surveying  the  scene. 

The  person  of  this  stranger  needs  a  particular  description.  His 
name  is  Archie  Carter.  By  birth  a  Tennesseean,  his  father  had 
moved  to  Texas  when  he  was  quite  young.  Here  he  remained 
until  a  few  years  previous  to  the  opening  of  our  story ;  and,  as  he 
loved  the  wandering  life  of  a  trapper,  he  pursued  his  game  from 
forest  to  forest,  and  river  to  river,  until  we  now  find  him  on  the 
banks  of  the  Osage,  a  tributary  of  the  Missouri.  He  was  some- 
thing of  a  military  man,  and  had  served  under  Walker,  in  the 
Mexican  war,  and  had  shown  himself  more  than  ordinarily  brave 
at  the  battle  of  Palo  Alto.  In  stature  he  was  nearly  seven  feet, 
and  of  noble,  nay,  gigantic  proportions.  His  face  was  the  person- 
ification of  homeliness  ;  yet  any  one  acquainted  with  physiognomy 
could  easily  discover  in  its  coarse  lines  the  marks  of  keen  sagacity, 
dry  humor,  and  genuine  feeling ;  and  these  marks  did  not  belie  his 
character.  His  eye  was  a  piercing  gray  one,  surmounted  by  heavy 
eyebrows,  which  looked  as  if  they  had  been  planted  helter-skelter 
by  Dame  Nature,  and  never  had  experienced  the  benefits  of  cultiva- 
tion. His  hair  was  coarse,  and  slightly  gray,  cut  short,  and,  from 
its  appearance,  each  hair  seemed  to  be  possessed  of  reason,  and  to 
stand  in  utter  fear  and  abhorrence  of  its  neighbor  in  either  direction. 
In  short,  as  the  individual  himself  expressed  it,  "  each  hair  was  on 
its  own  hook."  His  nose,  which  was  large  and  prominent,  bore 
visible  marks  of  hard  service,  as  it  possessed  two  distinct  crooks, 
of  such  peculiar  conformation  as  denoted  that  they  were  knocked 
into  existence.  His  mouth  was  capacious  ;  and  when  his  lips  parked, 
they  disclosed  two  rows  of  teeth  that  would,  to  all  appearance,  laugh 
at  shark's-meat  steak  or  sea-biscuit. 

His  dress  was  as  singular  as  his  figure.  It  consisted  of  a  cap  of 
dressed  deerskin,  around  the  top  of  which  were  suspended  several 


22  CORA  o'kane,  or 

fox-tails,  and  a  short  jacket,  or  roundabout,  as  they  sometimes  were 
called,  the  lower  extremities  of  which  did  not  reach  his  waist  into 
nearly  a  foot.  The  sleeves  were  also  nearly  six  inches  too  short, 
leaving  a  full  display  for  a  wrist  and  fist  which  Archie  was  pleased 
to  denominate  as  "Death's  pestles."  Like  Joseph's  coat,  his  was 
also,  either  from  choice  or  necessity,  composed  of  many  colors. 
His  pantaloons,  which  fitted  his  person  closely,  were  made  of  buck- 
skin, and,  like  their  fellow-garment,  were  "too  short  altogether." 
Unlike  most  of  the  trappers,  he  did  not  wear  moccasins ;  but  his 
feet  were  protected  by  boots  of  the  hugest  and  heaviest  dimensions. 
On  his  arm  lay  a  rifle  of  remarkable  length  and  weight,  and  a  pow- 
der-horn and  pouch,  together  with  a  tomahawk  and  knife,  found 
lodgment  around  his  waist. 

So  intent  were  the  rebels  on  loosing  the  grasp  of  the  dog  from 
the  neck  of  O'Kane,  that  they  did  not  observe  the  approach  of 
Archie.  After  exchanging:  glances  with  Wilson,  as  before  stated, 
he  brought  his  rifle  to  the  ground,  and  stood  leaning  his  chin  upon 
the  muzzle,  and  quietly  viewing  the  scene.  The  dog's  grasp  was 
at  length  broken,  and  O'Kane,  who  was  not  materially  injured, 
arose  from  the  ground,  foaming  with  rage.  The  first  object  that 
his  eye  met  was  the  figure  of  the  above-described.  He  stood  for  a 
few  moments  like  one  thunderstruck,  intently  gazing  at  Archie. 
The  eyes  of  the  whole  assembly  followed  his,  and  all  were  equally 
amazed.     At  length  O'Kane  found  utterance,  and  he  exclaimed, — 

"Who  the  devil  are  you?" 

Archie  gazed  at  him  coolly  for  a  few  moments,  and  then  replied, 
in  a  remarkably  heavy  voice,  — 

"  What  business  is  that  of  your'n,  eh?" 

O'Kane  was  for  a  few  moments  speechless  again ;  but  at  length 
he  replied,  — 

"  Don't  be  uncivil,  sirrah,  or  I  will  have  you  arrested.  These 
are  suspicious  times." 

"  Wal,"  replied  Archie,  "  then  don't  you  be  sarsy,  or,  d — n  me, 
I'll  box  your  ears  for  you." 

O'Kane  saw  that  the  imperturbable  stranger  was  the  wrong  man 
to  intimidate,  and  he  changed  his  policy. 

"My  friend,"  said  he,  soothingly,  "you  know  that  suspicion  is  a 
natural  attendant  upon  such  times  as  these,  and  you  cannot  blame 
us  for  inquiring  into  your  business  here  at  this  particular  time. 
You  may  be  friendly  to  us  —  " 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  23 

"Don't  call  me  your  friend,  you  infernal  scoundrel,  or  I'll  cut 
you  up  in  no  time  !  "  interrupted  the  stranger.  Then  suddenly 
starting,  as  if  from  a  reverie,  he  approached  Wilson,  exclaiming, 
as  he  did  so,  — 

"Marvin,  my  lad,  this  looks  very  suspicious.  Why,  your  back 
looks  like  a  ragged  steak !  I'm  inclined  to  opinionate  that  some- 
body'11  make  up  for  this  biz'ness,  or  I'll  eat  an  airthquake  !  " 

While  delivering  himself  of  this  apparent  parenthesis,  Archie 
had  unsheathed  his  knife  and  cut  the  cords  that  secured  Wilson. 
Faint  from  suffering  and  loss  of  blood,  the  young  man  sunk  at  the 
foot  of  the  tree  the  moment  he  was  liberated  ;  and  Archie  immedi- 
ately dropped  upon  his  knees  by  his  side,  and  supported  his  head. 

"Marvin,  my  boy,"  said  he,  "  cheer  up ;  don't  be  discouraged  at 
this.  It'll  be  the  worst  misforting  that  ever  happened  to  O'Kane, 
after  all.  You'll  get  over  it  presently.  It  aren't  worth  mindin'." 
Raising  his  head,  and  gazing  at  O'Kane  with  an  eye  of  fire,  he 
continued,  "This  is  infarnal  pretty  biz'ness  fqr  human  bein's,  now, 
ain't  it,  you  infarnal  pale-gizzard  imp  of  the  devil?  It's  a  manly 
thing,  now,  ain't  it?     Darn  me,  I'll  —  " 

He  suddenly  stopped  speaking,  and,  opening  his  capacious  mouth 
to  its  utmost  extension,  he  uttered  a  horrid  yell,  that  caused  the 
whole  rebel  body  to  start  and  turn  pale.  In  a  moment,  a  heavy 
trampling  was  heard  in  the  woods,  and,  shortly  after,  some  thirty- 
five  armed  men  were  in  O'Kane's  yard. 

"  Seize  every  one  of  the  vile  heathen  !  "  shouted  Archie  ;  "  and 
one  of  you  run  for  some  water.  We'll  see  how  they  like  the  re- 
verse of  their  noble  warfare." 

In  a  moment,  O'Kane  and  his  guests  were  seized,  and  some 
dozen  of  the  new  comers  were  searching  the  premises  for  ropes 
with  which  to  secure  them.  These  were  quickly  found ;  and  the 
rebels  were  soon  lying  upon  the  grass,  as  securely  bound  as  Wilson 
had  been  a  short  time  before.  They  made  no  resistance ;  for  they 
saw  it  would  be  in  vain.  Indeed,  from  the  v«ry  moment  they  dis- 
covered Archie,  they  appeared  to  be  spell-bound  —  none  having 
offered  to  interfere  while  he  was  releasing  Wilson,  even  O'Kane 
himself  remaining  a  passive  spectator  of  the  scene. 

Archie  soon  succeeded  in  restoring  Wilson  to  consciousness,  and 
immediately  set  about  dressing  his  wounds,  at  which  business  he 
appeared  an  adept.     He  appeared  also  to  have  every  necessary 


24  COEA   O'KANE,   OE 

material  for  this  business  close  at  hand,  and  in  a  short  time  he  had 
performed  the  operation  to  his  satisfaction.  Calling  one  of  his 
command  to  his  side,  he  said,  — 

"  Go  into  the  house  and  get  a  shirt  for  the  boy,  and  be  quick 
about  it.      Get  the  best  one  O'Kane  has  got." 

The  man  soon  returned,  and  Archie  completed  his  attentions  to 
the  patient.  Leaving  him  at  the  foot  of  the  tree,  he  proceeded  to 
make  other  arrangements  for  the  final  disposition  of  his  prisoners. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

In  obedience  to  the  orders  of  Archie,  O'Kane  and  his  compan- 
ions were  soon  tied  to  the  shade-trees  of  the  yard,  where  they  were 
left  by  the  Unionists  to  ponder  upon  the  sudden  change  in  their 
fortunes,  whilst  they  sought  in  the  house  for  something  to  satisfy 
their  hunger,  guided,  in  the  mean  time,  by  their  tall  leader.  As 
might  be  expected,  the  advent  of  the  hungry  crew  into  the  sanctum 
of  Miss  Rebecca  raised  all  the  ireful  feelings  which  she  possessed. 
Through  all  the  punishment  of  Wilson,  and  up  to  the  sudden 
change  in  the  situation  of  her  friends,  Miss  Rebecca  had  main- 
tained her  post  at  the  door,  a  witness  of  the  whole.  When,  how- 
ever, Archie  spoke  to  his  comrades  about  eating  at  the  expense  of 
O'Kane,  she  hastily  retreated  to  her  kitchen,  and,  arming  herself 
with  a  tea-pot,  in  order  to  show  as  much  contempt  as  possible  for 
the  Unionists,  and  to  show  them  her  independence  of  mind,  she 
awaited  their  approach  as  calmly  as  a  thunder  storm  awaits  its  ap- 
pointed time.  She  was  not  compelled  to  wait  long.  In  a  few 
moments  they  came  pouring  in,  headed  by  their  tall  leader,  who 
was  compelled  materially  to  lower  his  crest,  in  order  to  enter  the 
doorway. 

"  O,  you  marauding  elves  I  O,  you  villains  that  you  are  ! " 
cried  Rebecca,  directing  her  glaring  eye  towards  the  leader.  "  Eat 
at  O'Kane's  expense,  eh  !  — will  you?  " 

"  Haw  !  haw  !  haw  !  "  roared  the  tall  captain,  throwing  himself 
into  a  chair.  "  Get  us  something  to  eat,  you  vinegar-faced  bel- 
dam.    Don't  you  s'pose  we're  as  hungry  as  your  friends  was?  " 

"  Vinegar  face,  eh  !  vinegar  face  !  you  brute,  you  !  "  cried  Re- 
becca, trembling  with  rage.     "  Take  that,  you  impertinent  devil !  " 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  25 

At  the  same  time,  suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  she  hurled  her 
china  tea-pot  fair  at  the  head  of  Archie,  which  conspicuous  mark 
it  missed,  and  was  dashed  into  a  thousand  fragments  against  the 
wall. 

"  Haw  !  haw  !  haw  !  you  old  porcupine  !  "  continued  Archie  ; 
"you're  a  ra'al  bruiser!  Ton  my  word,  I  should  like  to  argufy 
with  you ;  but  I  hain't  got  time." 

Then,  turning  himself  towards  a  few  of  the  black  servants,  who 
-  were  standing  near,  he  exclaimed,  "  Bring  forth  some  food  instantly, 
^  if  you  don't  want  to  be  eat  up  yourselves.     No  delay,  now  !  " 

The  servants  hastily  prepared  to  obey  his  order ;  and  Miss  Ke- 
becca,  whose  rage  had  been  somewhat  calmed  upon  witnessing  the 
demolition  of  her  china  tea-pot,  again  commenced :  — 

"  O  !  if  I  was  only  a  man,  I'd  warm  your  jacket  for  you,  you 
great  —  " 

She  was  interrupted  by  another  burst  of  Archie's  hearty  merri- 
ment ;  and,  without  giving  her  time  to  conclude  her  sentence,  that 
worthy  replied,  — 

"  If  you  was  a  man  !  Haw  !  haw  !  haw  !  That's  funny.  I 
swow,  you'd  look  worse  than  I  do.  Ton  my  word,  I'm  glad  I've 
come  across  you  ;  for  your  infernal  old  face  has  put  me  in  a  better 
humor  with  my  own.     Haw  !  haw  !  " 

The  tables  from  the  yard  had  been  brought  in,  and  the  servants 
had  arranged  upon  it  the  cold  remnants  of  the  rebel  feast,  and  such 
other  eatables  as  offered  themselves,  which,  being  observed  by 
Archie,  he  cried,  — 

"  Come,  boys,  the  sun's  getting  low.  Let's  refresh,  and  do  our 
business  ;  for  we've  some  ways  to  travel  yet  to-night.  Corp'  Smith," 
he  cried,  turning  to  an  individual  who  stood  near  him,  "take  some 
of  the  best  you  can  find  to  Marvin.     It  may  do  him  good." 

The  man  proceeded  to  execute  his  commission,  and  the  remainder 
gathered  around  the  tables.  Eebecca  stood  watching  their  opera- 
tions for  some  time  in  sullen  silence  ;  but  at  length  she  exclaimed,  — 

"I  wish  I  had  some  ratsbane;  'pon  my  word,  I'd  pizen  all  of 
you  —  every  one  of  you  —  and  you  in  particular,"  said  she,  direct- 
ing her  eye  to  the  tall  leader. 

"  Haw  !  haw !  you  old  fool !  "  shouted  he,  "  do  you  think  you 
could  pizen  me  with  ratsbane  ?     Why,  I've  eat  a  peck  on't  afore 
now,  to  sweeten  my  stomach  with  !  " 
4 


26  CORA    O'KANE,    OR 

A  generalrroar  from  the  company  followed  this  announcement, 
and  Rebecca,  seating  herself  in  silent  despair  of  gaining  the  contest, 
threw  herself  into  a  stiff  attitude  and  remained  silent,  whilst  Archie 
and  his  men  concluded  their  meal.  As  soon  as  their  repast  was 
over,  they  all  adjourned  to  the  yard,  to  make  a  final  disposition  of 
the  prisoners.  After  gazing  at  them  for  a  few  moments,  Archie, 
signifying  to  his  men  that  he  wished  for  silence,  thus  delivered  him- 
self to  O'Kane,  before  whom  he  was  standing :  — 

"  O'Kane,  I'm  a  Christian  individewl,  and  I,  in  gin'ral,  deal  with 
all  my  enemies  in  a  Christian  manner.  My  name  is  Archie  Carter ; 
and  I'm  a  Union  man,  as  the  Lord  very  well  knows.  If  I  had 
anything  like  a  commission  from  Old  Abe,  I'd  shoot  every  devil  of 
ye  in  a  Christian-like  manner ;  but  you  see  I  hain't  got  none  yet, 
and  I  won't  murder  no  way.  You've  disgraced  human  nature  this 
day  a  little  the  hardest !  You've  flogged  a  young  fellow  in  a  cruel 
and  onnatural  way,  'cause  he  differed  with  you  in  opinion.  Re- 
member, if  I  should  ever  meet  you  again  with  your  cursed  rebels, 
—  remember  my  Long  Tom,"  at  the  same  time  extending  his  rifle 
towards  O'Kane. 

Archie  now  prepared  to  march.  A  litter  was  constructed  of 
some  materials  nearest  at  hand,  for  the  purpose  of  transporting 
Marvin  Wilson ;  but,  as  he  was  about  being  placed  upon  it,  Archie 
espied  a  skiff  at  the  extremity  of  the  yard. 

"Hold  on!"  he  shouted.  "Place  Marvin  in  the  skiff,  and  I'll 
row  it  myself,  while  the  rest  of  you  take  the  shore  path." 

The  new  arrangement  was  acceded  to,  and  in  a  few  moments 
Marvin  "Wilson  was  conveniently  placed  in  the  skiff,  with  his  faithful 
dogs  beside  him,  and  Archie  prepared  to  manage  the  boat.  The 
company  started  on  their  way,  going  by  the  shore  path,  under  the 
command  of  Corporal  Smith,  while  Archie  shoved  off  the  skiff, 
leaving  the  rebels  still  bound  to  the  trees.  As  the  skiff  was  shov- 
ing off,  Marvin  faintly  turned  his  head  towards  the  windows  of  the 
house,  in  order  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  Cora ;  but  she  was  nowhere 
to  be  seen.  With  a  sigh  he  reclined  himself  in  the  boat,  and  was 
in  a  few  moments  beyond  the  scene  of  his  late  disaster. 

When  the  strife  between  loyalty  and  treason  was  in  its  incipient 
stage,  Archie  was  found  upon  the  Union  side  of  the  question,  and 
entered  into  the  spirit  of  the  Union  movements  with  his  whole  soul. 
As  has  been  intimated  to  the  reader,  he  was  now  on  a  march  with 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  27 

a  company  who  had  volunteered  their  services  to  "  secure  a  license 
to  fight,"  as  he  termed  a  commission,  and  then  to  go  wherever  his 
services  were  most  needed.  Those  under  his  temporary  command 
were  nearly  all  young  men  from  the  vicinity  of  Osceola,  and  were 
destined  for  headquarters,  to  offer  their  services  to  the  cause  of 
Freedom.  Accident  had  brought  him  to  the  neighborhood  of 
O'Kane's,  and  the  result  is  known  to  the  reader.  He  had  long 
known  Marvin  Wilson,  as,  indeed,  did  all  the  Unionists  in  that  re- 
gion of  country ;  but  Archie,  in  particular,  for  reasons  which  will 
be  developed  to  the  reader  as  he  proceeds  in  the  narrative,  regarded 
him  with  warm  and  earnest  affection. 

As  they  proceeded  down  the  river  towards  the  young  hunter's 
residence,  he  detailed  to  Archie  all  the  particulars  of  his  encounter 
with  the  rebels  at  O'Kane's.  He  had  started  early  that  morning 
in  pursuit  of  game,  not  caring  which  way  his  course  should  shape, 
until  at  last  his  dogs  aroused  a  noble  buck,  which  started  in  the 
direction  of  O'Kane's.  For  some  distance  he  followed  his  dogs 
with  all  the  speed  he  could  command ;  but  as  they  were  soon  lost 
to  his  sight,  he  followed  more  leisurely,  until  he  reached  the  house. 
The  reader  is  already  acquainted  with  the  incidents  that  occurred 
there. 

The  sun  was  just  setting  when  the  skiff  arrived  at  the  cabin  of 
Wilson,  and  in  a  short  time  afterwards  the  men  who  had  followed 
the  shore  also  arrived.  After  a  brief  consultation,  they  resolved 
to  rest  for  the  night  where  they  were,  and  be  governed  by  circum- 
stances as  to  their  future  march.  The  cabin  of  Wilson  could  ac- 
commodate a  part  of  them,  and  the  balance  could  easily  find  lodging- 
places  in  the  surrounding  forest,  as  the  weather  was  warm,  and 
their  limbs  unused  to  the  luxuries  of  feather  beds  and  other  like 
conveniences.  After  helping  themselves  to  refreshments  from  their 
well-stored  haversacks,  they  proceeded  to  search  for  convenient 
resting-places ;  and,  soon  after  nightfall,  all,  save  Archie,  who 
was  in  Wilson's  cabin,  and  one  or  two  who  were  holding  watch 
outside,  were  in  the  arms  of  Morpheus. 

Miss  Rebecca  watched  the  disappearance  of  Archie  and  his  men ; 
and  after  waiting  for  some  time,  lest  they  should  return,  she  then 
proceeded  to  call  the  female  portion  of  her  guests,  who,  from  the 
first  moment  of  Wilson's  punishment,  had  sought  refuge  in  a  cham- 
ber, where  they  had  remained  during  the  whole  affray,  to  come  to 


28  CORA   O'KANE,    OR 

her  assistance  in  the  task  of  freeing  her  friends.  They  timidly 
obeyed  the  summons,  and,  marshalled  by  the  valorous  dame,  and 
armed  with  knives,  proceeded  to  liberate  the  sullen-looking  band 
who  were  tied  to  the  trees  in  the  yard.  After  they  had  all  been 
released,  O'Kane,  in  the  height  of  anger,  swore  eternal  vengeance 
on  all  Unionists,  and  especially  upon  Archie  and  Marvin  Wilson. 
He  then  turned  to  Sergeant  Hughes  and  his  men,  and  proposed,  as 
they  had  a  long  distance  to  go,  that  they  should  stay  until  morning, 
which  suggestion  they  concluded  to  acquiesce  in. 

The  next  morning,  O'Kane  began  to  make  preparations  for  leav- 
ing home,  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  what  could  be  done  about  re- 
cruiting his  guard.  At  sunrise,  the  sergeant  and  his  men  started 
for  the  headquarters  of  General  Price ;  and  as  thef  rowed  their 
boat  into  the  middle  of  the  river,  they  concluded  it  was  not  expedi- 
ent to  have  the  bonnie  blue  flag  floating  from  its  bow,  thinking 
that,  under  the  circumstances,  discretion  was  the  better  part  of 
valor.  After  O'Kane  had  made  the  necessary  preparations  for  his 
departure,  he  cautioned  his  servants  to  keep  a  good  lookout,  while 
William  supplied  them  with  a  few  rusty  old  muskets  and  a  little 
ammunition  ;  and  Sambo,  Jim,  and  Thomas  thought  themselves  men 
of  some  consequence.  Their  horses  were  now  brought  to  the  door, 
and  O'Kane  and  William  mounted,  and  rode  at  full  speed  to  the 
residence  of  McBride. 

The  sun  was  going  down  as  they  entered  the  avenue  leading  to 
the  house  of  McBride.  As  they  rode  up  to  the  door,  McBride 
met  them ;  and  when  they  had  dismounted,  he  ordered  a  servant  to 
take  charge  of  their  horses,  and  bade  O'Kane  and  his  son  to  walk  in. 
He  now  caused  a  substantial  supper  to  be  prepared  for  them,  to 
which  they  did  ample  justice.  Supper  being  finished,  they  were 
invited  into  his  library.  After  they  were  seated,  he  related  to  them 
the  news  of  Frost's  surrender,  and  that  he  had  received  an  order 
from  Governor  Jackson  to  gather  as  fast  as  possible  the  friends  of 
the  Confederate  cause  in  this  section  of  the  state,  and  that  he  had 
despatched  circulars  to  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  notifying 
them  that  their  presence  was  required  at  Clinton. 

"  The  day  appointed  for  the  meeting  is  to-morrow,"  said  he ; 
*  and  I  am  very  glad  that  you  are  here,  colonel ;  for  you  can  ac- 
company me  to  Clinton.  We  intend  to  have  the  Circle  meet  early 
in  the  morning,  and  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  we  shall  have  a 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  29 

public  meeting,  the  object  of  which  is  to  induce  the  non-slavehold- 
ing  whites  to  array  themselves  upon  our  side;  and  you,  O'Kane, 
must  be  one  of  the  speakers.  You  must  dwell  emphatically  on 
that  point  which  will  naturally  touch  their  hearts  ;  and  that  is,  that 
the  old  despot  in  the  White  House  is  now  preparing  to  march  his 
minions  into  our  state  to  destroy,  ravish,  and  plunder  the  poor  peo- 
ple, and  that  upon  their  banners  is  inscribed,  f  Beauty  and  Booty.'  * 
Now  that  the  programme  had  been  made  out  for  the  following 
day,  O'Kane  and  William  interested  McBride  by  relating  to  him 
their  adventure  with  Wilson  and  Archie,  and  conversed  until  a  late 
hour,  when  they  all  retired  for  the  night.  McBride,  O'Kane,  and 
William  were  on  the  road  to  Clinton  as  early  as  four  o'clock,  and 
arrived  in  time  to  transact  all  necessary  business  with  the  Circle. 
At  ten  o'clock  the  people  assembled,  and  it  was  as  motley-looking 
an  assemblage  of  men  as  ever  congregated  together.  O'Kane's 
eloquence  had  the  desired  effect  4  and  after  the  meeting  books  were 
opened  for  enlistments.  We  here  leave  O'Kane  and  his  son  for 
the  present,  busily  engaged  obtaining  names  for  his  special  guard. 

When  Cora  O'Kane  was  led  into  the  house  after  fainting  in  the 
yard,  she  immediately  sought  the  quiet  of  her  own  chamber,  refus- 
ing the  company  of  several  who  offered  their  services  to  her.  Her 
room  was  in  the  front  part  of  the  house,  with  one  of  the  circular 
windows  overlooking  the  yard.  Once  or  twice,  as  she  heard  the 
shouts  of  her  uncle's  guests,  she  attempted  to  go  to  the  window, 
and  see  what  could  be  discovered  ;  but  her  courage  failed  her.  She 
did,  however,  finally  glance  at  the  yard.  What  to  make  of  the 
appearance  of  the  armed  men  that  she  there  saw,  she  was  utterly  at 
a  loss.  She  caught  a  view  of  Marvin  Wilson,  seated  at  the  foot  of 
the  tree ;  and,  not  knowing  what  had  previously  taken  place,  she 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  assertion  of  O'Kane  in  relation  to 
the  plot  in  which  Marvin  was  engaged  was  in  reality  true ;  yet  her 
prejudices  in  favor  of  Wilson  soon  banished  such  thoughts.  She 
retired  from  the  window,  and  threw  herself  upon  the  bed.  Here 
she  remained  until  the  noise  occasioned  by  the  departure  of  the 
guests  again  attracted  her  attention,  and  her  curiosity  got  the  better 
of  her  determination.  She  again  went  to  the  window,  and  found 
that  her  uncle's  guests  were  departing.  She  concluded  that  nothing 
serious  had  occurred ;  and,  feeling  much  easier  under  this  conclu- 
sion, she  again  sought  her  couch. 


30  CORA   O'KAKE,    OR 

She  was  not  permitted  to  remain  long  in  quiet,  for  she  soon  heard 
the  voice  of  Miss  Eebecca  upon  the  staircase,  requiring  her  presence 
below.  She  obeyed  the  summons,  and  found  her  aunt  in  a  terrible 
rage  at  the  singular  and  unexpected  termination  of  the  day's  business 
in  general,  but  more  particularly  did  she  mourn  and  fume  over  the 
loss  of  her  tea-pot.  If  Cora  was  in  ignorance  of  most  of  the  trans- 
actions of  the  afternoon  when  she  left  her  chamber,  she  did  not 
long  remain  uninformed ;  for  the  exceedingly  supple  tongue  of  her 
aunt  glided  over  the  whole  narrative  with  the  speed  of  a  locomo- 
tive, adding,  besides  a  detail  of  the  facts,  several  slight  and  pointed 
embellishments,  for  which  the  good  dame  was  somewhat  famous. 
Cora  came  in  for  a  full  share  of  the  virago's  vituperation,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Union  partisans ;  and  then,  as  if  to  inflict  still  more 
deeply  her  vengeance,  Rebecca  dwelt  with  peculiar  earnestness  and 
warmth  of  expression  upon  her  detail  of  the  punishment  inflicted 
upon  Wilson.  She  described  the  appearance  of  his  mangled  back 
witli  great  gusto,  and  wound  up  that  part  of  her  history  by  express- 
ing a  hearty  wish  that  every  Union  man  might  meet  with  similar 
treatment  at  the  hands  of  the  Confederates. 

The  narrative  of  Rebecca  filled  the  mind  of  Cora  with  dread  and 
foreboding.  She  saw  that  a  rupture  had  indeed  commenced,  and 
what  its  fruits  were  likely  to  be  was  forcibly  brought  home  to  her 
understanding.  She  loved  Marvin  Wilson.  She  had  not  acquaint- 
ed him  with  the  fact  by  a  bona  fide  assertion,  but  she  had  for  some 
time  admitted  the  fact  in  her  communings  with  her  own  feelings. 
They  had  met  but  a  few  times,  and  then  it  was  under  circumstances 
extremely  unfavorable  to  a  development  of  the  affections,  or  for  an 
interchange  of  sentiment.  But  it  needs  not  opportunity  or  advan- 
tages to  hear  and  understand  the  language  of  the  affections.  A 
look  or  a  tone,  a  smile,  or  some  little,  almost  unnoticeable,  move- 
ment is  eloquent,  and  reveals  more  than  the  most  learned  and  elab- 
orate specimens  of  logic  or  eloquence  could  effect.  After  Miss 
Rebecca  had  unburdened  herself  of  her  spleen,  Cora  was  left  again 
to  herself.  She  soon  retired  to  her  couch,  to  ponder  upon  what  she 
had  learned,  and  eventually  to  dream  of  him  in  whose  welfare  she 
now  felt  a  deep  concern. 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  31 


CHAPTER    V. 

In  the  early  morning  Archie  and  his  men  were  astir,  and,  break- 
ing their  fasts,  they  proceeded  to  hold  a  consultation  as  to  what 
their  future  operations  should  be.  Marvin  Wilson  had  passed  a 
sleepless  night,  and  was  suffering  more  from  the  wounds  upon  his 
back  than  he  had  the  previous  day.  It  became  apparent  to  Archie 
Carter,  despite  his  encouraging  addresses  to  his  patient,  that  his 
case  was  a  critical  one,  and  that  he  needed  close  attention  and  care. 
He  could  not,  therefore,  think  of  quitting  the  couch  of  his  young 
friend  ;  and  he  consequently  proposed  that  the  men,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  two  besides  himself,  should  go  to  Clay's  Settlement,  and 
await  the  final  issue  of  Marvin's  illness,  before  proceeding  farther 
on  their  intended  journey. 

"  You  know,  boys,"  said  he,  in  support  of  hfs  plan,  "  it  will  never 
do  to  leave  Marvin  in  this  situation ;  for,  setting  the  meanness  of 
the  thing  to  one  side,  we  can't  very  well  spare  him  just  at  this  time." 

The  men  readily  assented  to  this  plan,  and  all,  save  two  specified 
by  Carter,  started,  under  the  command  of  Corporal  Smith,  for 
Clay's  Settlement,  there  to  rendezvous  until  further  deliberation. 
Clay's  Settlement  was  but  a  few  miles  below  Wilson's  cabin,  and 
was  situated  upon  Grand  Creek,  which  is  a  tributary  of  the  Osage. 
It  was  quite  a  village,  numbering  several  hundred  souls,  most  of 
whom  were  warm  and  ardent  Union  men.  They  were  convinced 
of  the  final  event  of  the  quarrel  between  the  friends  of  the  Union 
and  those  who  were  attempting  to  destroy  it,  and  feeling  a  determi- 
nation to  be  found  ready  when  the  storm  should  come,  the  men 
built  for  themselves  a  fort.  They  were  sure  of  finding  friends 
and  a  rendezvous  at  this  place ;  nor  were  they  disappointed  in  their 
expectation.  When  they  informed  the  inhabitants  that  they  were 
volunteers  for  the  army  of  freedom,  they  were  received  with  open 
arms,  and  were  soon  comfortably  quartered  in  the  Settlement. 

Archie  Carter  was  unwearied  in  his  attentions  to  Wilson.  He 
watched  over  him  with  an  unusual  tenderness,  anticipated  all  his 
wants,  and  was  incessant  in  his  application  of  the  medical  herbs 
with  which  the  forest  abounded,  and  which  his  experience  had 
taught  him  were  salutary.  Under  his  treatment,  in  a  few  days 
T\  ilson  began  to  mend.     They  were  supplied  with  provisions  from 


32  COEA   O'KANE,    OR 

the  river  and  forest  by  the  two  men  who  remained  with  Archie,  and, 
considering  all  the  circumstances,  Wilson's  situation  was  not  ex- 
tremely unpleasant.  In  about  three*  weeks'  time  he  had  so  far 
recovered  as  to  be  able  to  undertake  a  day's  hunting  in  company 
with  Archie,  being  tired  and  weary  of  his  long  confinement. 

It  was  a  bright  and  balmy  morning  upon  which  they  set  out  upon 
their  excursion,  and  unthinkingly  they  shaped  their  course  up  the 
river,  in  the  direction  of  O'Kane's.  They  followed  the  banks  of 
the  stream,  and  were  already  some  four  miles  from  their  cabin  ere 
they  thought  of  a  halt.  Marvin,  now  growing  faint,  sat  down  at 
the  foot  of  a  tree,  while  Archie  gazed  attentively  into  the  woods. 
At  that  moment  he  discovered  a  female  coming  towards  them.  She 
did  not  notice  them  until  she  was  almost  upon  them.  She  then 
stood  transfixed  :  she  could  not  move  a  muscle,  she  was  so  fright- 
ened ;  but  when  she  discovered  that  one  was  Marvin,  she  became 
more  reconciled.  Marvin,  not  dreaming  that  he  should  meet  Cora, 
and  now  that  he  had  so  unexpectedly,  felt  his  whole  frame  thrill 
with  ecstasy. 

As  the  reader  is  already  aware,  he  loved  Cora.  His  opportuni- 
ties to  converse  with,  or  even  see,  her,  were  w  few  and  far  between." 
He  had  often  resolved  to  tell  her  of  his  passion ;  yet  up  to  the 
present  time  he  had  not  spoken  to  her  upon  the  subject  nearest  to 
his  heart.  The  glance,  however,  which  she  gave  him  in  the  yard 
had  caused  him  to  form  such  a  determination  anew,  should  an  op- 
portunity favorable  for  the  task  ever  occur.  Now  that  the  time  had 
come,  he  resolved  to  unburden  his  mind.  Archie  knew  full  well 
how  dearly  Marvin  would  prize  a  private  interview  with  Cora  ;  and 
he,  unperceived  by  Cora,  wandered  into  the  forest,  out  of  view. 
Now  that  they  were  alone,  Marvin  addressed  her.  They  sat  for  an 
hour  or  more,  engaged  in  a  desultory  conversation,  before  Marvin 
ventured  to  make  his  declaration.     At  length  he  said,  — 

"  Cora,  I  make  no  disguise  or  preliminaries.  I  love  you  —  have 
loved  you  since  I  first  saw  you ;  and,  knowing  all  the  unfavorable 
circumstances  by  which  I  have  been  surrounded,  here  venture  to 
throw  myself  upon  your  generosity.  Tell  me,  Cora,  do  I  love 
hopelessly  ?  " 

Cora  spoke  not  for  a  few  moments  ;  yet  it  was  evident  to  Marvin, 
who  regarded  her  intently,  that  she  labored  under  deep  emotion. 
At  length,  however,  she  replied,  — 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  33 

"Mr.  Wilson,  I  will  not  deny  that  you  are  —  that  I  do  regard 
you  with  more  than  a  common  interest ;  and  I  will  not  deny,  that, 
were  circumstances  different  with  me  from  what  they  now  are,  I 
could  —  " 

Her  tears  impeded  her  utterance,  and  in  a  moment  Marvin  was 
by  her  side. 

*  Pardon  me,  Cora  L"  he  exclaimed ;  "  I  have  unthinkingly 
wounded  your  feelings.  I  should  not  have  spoken  to  you  upon 
this  subject  at  this  time." 

"It  is  not  that,  Mr.  Wilson,"  responded  Cora.  "If  you  only 
knew  the  wretchedness  of  my  situation  at  home,  you  would  at  once 
comprehend  all." 

Cora  then  proceeded  to  detail  to  Marvin  the  treatment  she  received 
from  her  uncle  and  cousin,  not  concealing  anything  save  the  taunts 
inflicted  upon  her  for  the  sake  of  him.  Marvin's  eye  kindled  at  the 
tale,  and  he  at  once  proposed  that  she  should  never  more  enter  her 
uncle's  door. 

"I  have  but  a  poor  house  to  offer  you,"  he  exclaimed,  warmly; 
"  but  we  can  go  where  there  is  a  better.  I  am  not  exactly  what  I 
seem ;  that  is,  I  am  not  compelled  to  follow  the  avocation  of  a 
hunter  for  a  livelihood.  But  consent  to  become  mine  now,  and  you 
shall  be  effectually  rid  of  your  uncle's  persecution." 

"That  would  never  do,"  replied  Cora.  "I  am  entirely  in  his 
power  until  I  am  eighteen,  and  then,  according  to  my  father's  will, 
I  am  free  to  do  as  I  choose." 

"It's  a  long  time  yet  ere  that  privilege  arrives,"  said  Marvin,  in 
a  mournful  tone,  —  "a  long  time,  and,  to  my  mind,  freighted  with 
important  and  mighty  events." 

"  It  is  not  so  long  a  time,"  replied  Cora.  "For  the  sake  of  the 
prospects  beyond,  I  can  suffer  till  it  rolls  around." 

They  conversed  for  some  time,  and  at  last  Cora  proposed  return- 
ing home.  She  was  in  the  act  of  shaking  hands  and  bidding  Marvin 
good  by,  when  she  looked  up  and  beheld  William  coming  towards 
them  on  horseback.  He  rode  by  them  in  silence,  and  Cora  proceed- 
ed slowly  towards  the  house.  Archie,  all  this  time,  was  lurking 
around  in  the  woods,  when,  hearing  the  sound  of  a  horse's  feet,  and 
thinking  something  might  be  up,  he  rushed  for  the  place  where  he 
left  Marvin  and  Cora.  Now  that  Cora  had  gone,  Marvin  and 
Archie  returned  to  the  cabin. 
5 


34  CORA   O'KANE,    OR 

After  arriving  at  the  cabin  of  Wilson,  Archie  securely  moored 
the  skiff,  and  they  retired  within.  It  was  here  that  Archie  informed 
"Wilson  of  his  determination  of  visiting  Clay's  Settlement  on  the 
following  day. 

"  There's  no  mistake,"  said  he ;  "  the  devil's  to  pay  among  the 
rebels.  That  O'Kane  affair  must  have  made  a  noise.  Here  we've 
been  caged  up  these  three  weeks  and  better,  and  hain't  had  a  chance 
to  o-ain  a  morsel  of  intelligence." 

"  That's-  true,"  replied  Wilson.  "  It's  high  time  we  knew  some- 
thing of  the  movements  of  o'ur  enemies.  So  we'll  even  go  to  the 
Settlement." 

The  remainder  of  the  day  was  spent  by  Wilson  and  his  compan- 
ions in  arranging  for  their  intended  journey  on  the  morrow,  and  in 
devising  plans  for  their  future  operations.  They  retired  early  to 
their  slumbers,  intending  to  start  for  the  Settlement  with  the  dawn. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

Colonel  O'Kane  remained  in  Clinton  four  days,  and  during  that 
time  he  had  mustered  into  the  Confederate  service  two  hundred 
men,  that  were  to  be  designated  as  the  Missouri  Confederate  Guard. 
He  had  appointed  his  subordinate  officers,  and  now  they  only  wanted 
arms  and  ammunition  to  be  ready  for  service.  William  had  returned 
home  two  days  before  his  father  left  Clinton,  and  was  on  his  way 
there  when  he  saw  Cora  and  Marvin  by  the  roadside ;  but  he  said 
nothing  to  her  upon  that  subject  when  she  had  returned  home  a  little 
while  after.  He  had  concluded  to  say  nothing  about  it' until  his 
father  returned.  When  his  father  arrived,  he  told  him  what  he  had 
seen.     O'Kane's  anger  knew  no  bounds.     He  said  to  William,  — 

"  Cora  must  marry  you  immediately  ;  and  as  for  that  d — d  cur, 
Wilson,  when  my  Guard  arrives,  under  command  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Rice,  we  will  rid  the  country  of  his  presence.  My  orders 
are  to  shoot  every  man  who  will  not  swear  allegiance  to  the  Con- 
federate government.  I  expect  my  Guard  to  arrive  here  to-mor- 
row ;  and  you  are  appointed  my  adjutant." 

O'Kane  now  left  the  room,  and  William  was  alone.  He  did  not 
like  the  plan  of  going  into  the  field,  or  into  any  active  service  with 
his  father;  for  he  was  a  consummate  coward.      Still,  as  all  the 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  35 

young  slaveholding  aristocracy  had  enlisted,  he  could  not  very  well 
but  follow  suit. 

O'Kane,  on  leaving  the  presence  of  William,  passed  into  his 
library,  staid  there  but  a  few  moments,  and  then  went  directly  to 
Cora's  room.  She  was  sitting  near  the  window  when  he  entered, 
and  immediately  arose  and  tendered  him  a  chair. 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  sit,"  was»the  reply  to  her  proffered  civility. 

He  paced  the  little  chamber  several  times  uneasily  aid  rapidly, 
and  then,  turning  towards  Cora,  who,  terrified  at  his  singular  be- 
havior, had  resumed  her  seat,  he  said,  — 

"  Cora,  for  the  last  time  I  ask  you,  will  you  consent  to  marry 
William?  This  night  you  must  choose,  and  your  decision  is  to  be 
final  for  this  world.  You  had,  therefore,  better  ponder  upon  it  well. 
Again  I  ask,  will  you  have  William  for  your  husband?" 

"Uncle,"  replied  Cora,  trembling,  —  "dear  uncle,  I  cannot  wed 
him.     Do  not  ask  me." 

"Have  you  decided?"  asked  her  uncle,  in  a  voice  of  forced 
calmness. 

"I  have,  dear  uncle,"  said  Cora,  embracing  his  knees  and  looking 
up  into  his  face,  while  the  tears  rolled  down  her  cheeks.  *  I  can 
never  marry  him  ;  but  I  can  and  will  be  his  friend.     Let  that  suffice." 

"  Away  !  "  cried  O'Kane,  fiercely  ;  "  away  !  you  need  never  at- 
tempt to  practise  your  female  arts  upon  me.  Xo  endearing  appel- 
lations, no  tears,  can  drive  me  from  my  purpose.  Hear  me  again  ! 
You  either  marry  William,  or  you  die  !  " 

Cora  sank  upon  the  floor  speechless  at  this  announcement.  Her 
uncle  regarded  not  her  situation,  but,  hearing  no  reply,  he  con- 
tinued, — 

"Yes,  you  die!  I  swear  I  will  not  be  balked  by  a  silly  girl. 
Come,  rouse ! "  he  continued,  pushing  her  with  his  foot  at  the  same 
time,  "rouse  up,  and  decide  !     Do  you  still  say  no?" 

Cora  had  in  some  measure  recovered  from  the  shock  which  the 
violent  conduct  of  her  uncle  had  caused  her,  and  she  was  therefore 
enabled  to  comprehend  his  last  question.  She  feebly  answered, 
"Xo,"  and  O'Kane  turned  on  his  heel,  and  abruptly  left  the  apart- 
ment, locking  the  door,  and  placing  the  key  in  his  pocket.  Cora 
remained  lying  upon  the  floor  for  nearly  an  hour,  and  then  she 
arose  and  sought  her  bed.  She  deeply  regretted  that  she  had  not 
taken  the  advice  of  Wilson,  and  left  her  uncle's  roof  forever.     She 


36  CORA  O'KAKE,   OR 

felt  sure  that  the  latter  would  take  desperate  steps  to  force  her  to  a 
compliance  with  his  wishes.  Then  came  the  remembrance  of  his 
threat.  She  knew  that  she  was  not  prepared  to  die.  She  thought 
of  the  secluded  situation  of  her  uncle's  house  —  of  how  far  she  was 
removed  from  any  one  who  would  choose  or  dare  to  help  her,  and 
her  heart  sank  within  her.  All  the  bright  recollections  of  other 
dnys  came  thronging  upon  her  memory,  and  she  wept  in  bitter 
agony.  All  night  long  she  was  in  tears  ;  but  when  the  day  dawned, 
its  blessed  light  cheered  her,  and  she  sank  into  a  profound  repose. 

The  sun  was  well  up  when  she  awoke,  and,  fearing  the  anger  of 
her  aunt,  should  she  keep  breakfast  waiting,  she  arose  hastily,  and 
dressed  herself  with  all  expedition.  She  tried  the  door ;  but  it  was 
fastened,  and  the  key  gone.  Finding  all  her  endeavors  to  obtain 
egress  vain,  the  poor  girl  seated  herself  by  the  window,  to  await, 
as  she  supposed,  her  final  doom. 

When  O'Kane  entered  his  library,  he  found  there  a  courier  from 
Governor  Jackson.  This  courier  was  one  of  the  most  unrelenting 
rebels  in  Missouri.  His  name  was  Martin,  and  he  had  for  many 
years  been  a  slave-dealer.  There  was  nothing  so  mean  that  he 
would  not  stoop  to,  to  gain  a  penny.  O'Kane,  aware  of  this,  after 
the  message  was  delivered  from  Jackson,  commenced  the  conversa- 
tion by  asking  Martin  if  he  was  as  discreet  as  he  had  been.  Martin 
answered,  that,  so  far  as  he  knew,  he  was.     O'Kane  then  said,  — 

"I  have  a  little  job  for  you,  and  will  pay  you  well  for  it.  It  is 
this  :  I  have  a  niece  —  the  daughter  of  a  deceased  brother  —  resid- 
ing with  me,  and  it  was  the  desire  of  that  brother  that  my  son 
should  marry  his  daughter ;  but  she  declares  that  she'll  die  •  rather 
submit  to  it.  Why  she  should  have  such  an  aversion  to  my  son,  I 
cannot  conceive,  only  she  is  herself  strongly  in  favor  of  the  old 
Union,  and  is  actually  in  love  with  one  of  the  strongest  Unionists 
in  this  vicinity.  As  I  am  going  into  actual  service,  and  my  house 
will  not  be  guarded,  those  infernal  Unionists  might  come  and  steal 
her  away  while  I  am  gone.  In  order,  therefore,  to  keep  her  within 
my  power,  I  want  you  to  take  her  this  night  and  carry  her  to  some 
safe  and  secure  place  within  the  Confederate  lines,  and  I  will  pay 
you  well  for  your  trouble,  and,  of  course,  all  necessary  expenses 
while  she  remains  in  your  custody.  If  she  dies,  so  much  the  better ; 
but  do  not  murder  her,  nor  do  her  any  harm." 

"It  is  not  necessary,"  said  Martin,  "to  carry  her  out  of  the 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  37 

state.  I  know  a  good  many  places  where  I  can  secrete  her,  where 
the  devil  himself  can't  find  her ;  and  I  have  one  particular  place  in 
my  mind  now,  where  live  an  old  uncle  and  aunt  of  mine.  They 
are  both  the  very  strongest  of  Secessionists.  They  live  in  Pine- 
ville ;  but  it  is  a  mighty  smart  distance  from  here,  .colonel.  It  is 
down  near  Arkansas  ;  and  the  girl  once  there,  I  reckon  she'll  never 
trouble  you  again." 

"  Then,"  said  O'Kane,  "  if  you  are  willing  to  go  to-night,  I  will 
make  preparations  for  your  departure' at  once." 

"  I  had  as  lives  go  to-night  as  any  time,"  said  Martin.  "  The  girl 
will  have  to  carry  her  traps  with  her ;  for  it  is  mighty  hard  getting 
things  down  there." 

"  I  will  see  to  all  that,"  said  O'Kane.  "  You  will  remain  here 
until  I  return.     I  will  not  be  gone  long." 

As  he  was  leaving  the  room,  O'Kane  said,  — 

"I  suppose  you  will  take  your  own  horse." 

"  Of  course,"  said  Martin. 

Here  O'Kane  left  Martin,  and  went  directly  to  "William,  and  in- 
formed him  of  his  plan,  and  told  him  to  go  and  arouse  his  trusty 
servant  Sam,  and  have  him  harness  Martin's  horse  into  their  light 
wagon.  He  ordered  him  not  to  lisp  a  word  of  what  was  going  on. 
William  was  then  to  see  his  aunt  Rebecca,  informing  her  of  his 
intentions,  and  requesting  her  to  go  to  Cora's  wardrobe,  and  select 
such  clothing  as  she  would  need.  He  was  also  to  help  his  aunt  to 
prepare  some  food  for  the  journey. 

O'Kane  then  returned  to  the  library,  and  informed  Martin  that 
his  niece  would  be  ready  in  a  few  moments.  William  now  entered, 
and  said  that  he  had  obeyed  his  commands,  and  that  everything  was 
ready.  O'Kane  immediately  went  up  to  Cora's  room,  rapped,  and 
bade  her  rise,  and  open  the  door.  Cora  obeyed,  and  was  in  a  short 
time  fully  dressed.  Her  uncle  then  commanded  her  to  follow  him 
down  stairs,  which  she  did,  not,  however,  without  fear  and  trem- 
bling. Arriving  in  the  hall  below,  her  uncle  told  her  to  go  into  the 
reception-room,  and  await  his  coming. 

Xo  one  can  describe  the  feelings  of  Cora  as  she  was  left  there 
alone ;  but  she  was  not  left  long  to  meditate,  for  soon  in  came 
O'Kane,  Martin,  and  Eebecca,  the  last  named  of  whom  brought 
her  travelling  bonnet  and  other  outside  apparel,  while  her  trunks 
were  left  in  the  hall.     O'Kane  addressed  Cora,  and  said,  — 


38  CORA   O'KAXE,    OR 

"  Inasmuch,  miss,  as  you  will  not  acquiesce  in  my  wish  in  regard 
to  marrying  William,  I  am  going  to  put  you  in  charge  of  this  friend 
of  mine,  who  will  cany  you  to  one  of  his  relatives.  There  you 
will  be  shut  out  from  the  world  until  such  time  as  you  are  cured  of 
your  obstinacy,  and  will  comply  with  my  wish.  And  here  let?  me 
warn  you,  as  you  love  life,  not  to  utter  a  sound  as  you  leave  these 
premises." 

Turning  to  Rebecca,  he  said,  — 

"  Assist  the  jade  in  dressing." 

About  one'clock  Martin  and  his  charge  were  on  the  road.  Here 
we  leave  Cora  pursuing  her  journey.  It  was  nearly  two  o'clock 
before  O'Kane  retired  to  rest.  He  felt  as  though  his  mind  was  re- 
lieved of  a  great  burden ;  and  yet  he  felt  sad,  for  a  moment,  as  he 
thought  of  his  conduct  towards  his  niece.  However,  the  thought 
of  the  immense  fortune  that  he  would  receive,  if  Cora  should  die 
before  she  reached  the  age  of  eighteen,  dazzled  his  eyes  and  crushed 
his  better  feelings,  and  he  became  more  reconciled ;  for  he  felt  sure 
Cora  could  not  escape  from  the  clutches  of  Martin,  and  that  he 
could  now  have  the  assurance  to  write  to  Cora's  bankers,  and  draw 
on  them,  if  it  should  be  necessary,  under  the  pretence  that  she  was 
dead. 

The  next  morning  O'Kane's  Guard  arrived,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Rice  commanding.  The  rest  of  the  day  was  spent  in  drilling,  and 
preparing  to  march  for  Warsaw  in  the  morning.  At  sunrise  the 
drum  beat  for  roll-call,  which  was  quite  amusing  to  the  servants ; 
but  Rebecca  was  terribly  frightened.  She  thought  the  Unionists 
had  come,  led  on  by  Archie.  Her  conscience  smote  her  for  her 
actions  towards  Cora.  She  had  seen  some  awful  sights  in  her 
dreams  the  night  previous. 

In  a  little  while,  the  officers  appeared  for  breakfast.  Rations  had 
been  prepared  for  the  men,  and  distributed  among  them,  and  they 
were  soon  on  their  way  towards  Warsaw.  Nothing  occurred  on  the 
road  worthy  of  particular  notice.  When  O'Kane  and  his  men 
reached  Warsaw,  which  they  did  by  a  circuitous  route,  coming  into 
the  town  from  the  north,  he  called  on  some  of  the  leading  Seces- 
sionists who  resided  there,  and,  with  their  permission  and  assistance, 
went  to  work  laying  out  a  camp  of  instruction,  as  if  he  would  remain 
there  a  few  days.  Thus  he  busied  himself  in  drilling  his  men  and 
dividing  them  into  squads  —  some  to  forage,  others  to  reconnoitre. 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  39 

Here  he  enlisted  fifty  more  men ;  and,  the  citizens  providing  them 
with  horses,  they  were  to  be  attached  to  his  guard  as  mounted 
infantry. 

CHAPTER    VII. 

AViiex  Marvin  and  Archie  arrived  at  the  Settlement,  they  were 
informed  that  General  Lyon  was  at  Jefferson  City.  Marvin  pro- 
posed to  Archie  and  the  men  to  go  on  and  join  General  Lyon's  com- 
mand. This  suggestion  they  heartily  indorsed  and  agreed  to.  On 
the  march  they  concluded  to  keep  off  from  the  main  roads  as  much 
as  possible,  as  they  had  but  very  little  ammunition  writh  them. 
When  they  arrived  at  Jefferson  City,  General  Lyon  received  them 
cordially,  and  proposed  at  once  to  organize  them  into  a  company, 
as  he  could  pass  over  enough  other  Missouri  recruits  to  increase 
their  number  to  one  hundred.  This  was  done,  and  Marvin  was 
commissioned  captain,  and  Archie  first  lieutenant. 

For  a  few  days,  Marvin  was  busily  engaged  in  drilling  his  men 
and  equipping  them.  One  afternoon  an  order  came  to  him  from 
headquarters,  stating  that  his  company  would  be  third  in  rank,  — 
which  would  be,  of  course,  the  color  company,  —  and  was  assigned 
to  the  Twelfth  Missouri  Regiment,  Colonel  Cook  commanding.  As 
soon  as  the  regiment  was  prepared  for  duty,  they  were  ordered  to 
march  in  the  direction  of  Warsaw,  and  watch  the  movements  of 
Jackson,  keeping  a  good  lookout. 

The  little  regiment  marched  undisturbed  to  Versailles.  Here  the 
colonel  concluded  to  halt,  and  go  into  camp,  as  the  weather  was  ex- 
ceedingly warm.  He  remained  here  two  days,  threw  out  his  pickets, 
arranged  his  camp  guard,  and  sat  down  to  rest.  At" nine  o'clock 
on  the  evening  of  the  second  day,  the  drum  beat  to  quarters,  and 
all  was  quiet  save  the  tramp  of  the  sentry  to  and  fro  on  his  beat,  as 
he  kept  the  patient  vigil  of  the  night.  At  two  o'clock,  on  the  next 
morning,  the  pickets  were  driven  in  by  the  advance  of  an  army  of 
rebels,  as  they  said.  The  long  roll  was  now  beat,  calling  them  to 
arms,  and  the  regiment  formed  a  line  of  battle  in  front  of  the  camp, 
in  as  convenient  a  position  as  circumstances  would  admit. 

The  day  before  the  following  scenes  were  enacted,  one  of  O'Kane's 
mounted  infantry  had  discovered  Colonel  Cook's  regiment  in  camp. 
He  immediately  wheeled,  and  reported  to  Colonel  O'Kane,  who 


40  CORA  o'kane,  or 

was  approaching,  that  he  had  discovered  some  Union  troops  en- 
camped, and  that  they  were  not  at  a  great  distance  from  them. 
O'Kane  now  reported  to  his  subordinate  officers  what  he  had  heard, 
and,  with  their  counsel,  determined  to  give  battle.  He  aroused  his 
men,  who  were  bivouacked  for  the  night,  with  the  order  to  march 
as  quickly  as  possible.  So  rapid  was  the  march  of  O'Kane's  men, 
that  his  mounted  infantry  drove  in  Cook's  pickets  as  early  as  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning. 

At  sunrise,  both  commands  formed  in  line  of  battle,  and  in  a 
short  time  the  fight  commenced.  It  is  impossible  here  to  describe 
or  explain  the  intentions  of  the  commanders,  for  after  the  first  vol- 
ley it  became  a  hand-to-hand  conflict.  The  Unionists,  overpowered 
by  the  rebels,  were  forced  to  retreat,  and  each  man  was  obliged  to 
take  care  of  himself.  Colonel  Cook  and  Archie  barely  escaped 
with  their  lives,  while,  unfortunately,  Captain  Wilson  was  taken 
prisoner. 

O'Kane  was  so  delighted  at  the  result  of  the  conflict,  that  his 
exultation  knew  no  bounds ;  but  his  joy  was  suddenly  turned  to 
sorrow  when  he  learned  that  his  son  was  among  the  slain.  When 
the  prisoners  that  had  been  taken  were  arrayed  before  O'Kane,  to 
his  great  astonishment  and  delight  he  discovered  among  them  Mar- 
vin Wilson.  Preparations  were  now  made  by  O'Kane  to  bury  the 
dead  and  take  care  of  the  wounded.  When  this  was  done,  they 
marched  back  to  Warsaw  with  their  prisoners. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

When  O'Kane  and  his  men  had  arrived  at  Warsaw,  the  prisoners 
were  placed  in  a  secure  building,  closely  guarded,  and  his  men  went 
into  camp,  soon  after  which  the  assembly  call  was  beat,  calling  the 
officers  to  the  colonel's  headquarters.  After  the  officers  had  assem- 
bled, O'Kane  thus  addressed  them  :  — 

"Gentlemen,  permit  me  to  compliment  you  for  your  bravery 
in  the  fight.  I  have  now  called  you  for  consultation  in  regard  to 
the  disposition  of  the  prisoners  we  have  taken." 

It  was  agreed  that  they  should  be  paroled,  with  the  exception  of 
Captain  Wilson.  O'Kane  would  not  consent  to  have  Marvin  pa- 
roled, but  did  not  give  his  reasons  to  his  brother  officers.      He 


THE   DOOM   OF   THE   KEBEL   GUARD.'  41 

proposecTthat  Wilson  should  be  tried  by  court  martial.  The  next 
day  the  prisoners  were  drawn  up  before  headquarters  and  paroled. 
While  this  was  going  on,  O'Kane  ordered  a  squad  of  mounted  men 
to  go  back  and  pick  up  all  the  straggling  Unionists  they  could  find. 
All  this  time  Marvin  remained  alone  in  prison,  closely  guarded  by  a 
man  whom  he  had  known  in  the  vicinity  of  Osceola,  and  from  him 
he  learned  that  Cora  was  either  dead,  or  had  been  removed  from 
this  section  of  the  country.  The  man  said  the  general  impression 
was  that  she  was  dead.  All  night  long,  Marvin's  mind  turned 
towards  Cora,  and  often  would  he  solioquize,  — 

"If  she,  is  dead,  what  is  the  use  of  my  living?  I  am  in  the 
hands  of  6'Kane,  and  die  I  must ;  but  I  will  die  like  a  soldier.  I 
should  like  to  know  what  has  become  of  Archie." 

In  this  way  he  worried  through  the  night.  The  next  morning, 
the  officers  were  again  summoned  to  Colonel  O'Kane's  quarters,  at 
which  it  was  decided  to  postpone  the  trial  -of  Captain  Wilson  four 

days. 

After  the  order  was  given  by  Colonel  Cook,\on  the  day  of  the 
fight,  that,  as  it  was  useless  for  them  to  hold  out  any  longer,  there- 
fore every  man  must  take  care  of  himself,  Archie,  like  an  old  vet- 
eran, at  once  made  preparations  to  look  out  for  Number  One ;  and, 
so  well  acquainted  was  he  with  that  part  of  the  country,  that  he  was 
not  long  in  finding  a  hiding-place,  where  he  felt  perfectly  secure 
from  the  observation  of  the  rebels.     He  remained  concealed  until 
he  felt  sure  that  they  had  left  the  scene  of  acJten,  and  then  slowly 
and  cautiously  did  he  move  towards  the  field,  to  see  if  he  could  find 
the  body  of  Captain  Wilson,  whom  he  supposed  to  be  dead.     The 
last  he  saw  of  him,  he  was  in  a  precarious  situation,  fighting  single- 
handed  with  four  stalwart  rebels ;  and  he  felt  sure  that  Wilson  must 
have  fallen.     Finding  nothing  of  his  body,  he  moved  sorrowfully 
away.     What  to  do  next  he  did  not  know.     As  he  stood  meditat- 
ing," one  of  his  own  men,  who  had  also  been  concealed  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, came  to  him,  and  told  him  that  Captain  Wilson  had  been 
taken  prisoner;  and   this  man  also  informed  Archie  that  he  had 
learned  from  the  conversation  of  two  rebels,  who  had  passed  his 
place  of  concealment  on  horseback,  that  the  name  of  the  rebel  com- 
mander was  O'Kane. 

Archie  at  once  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  all  day  with 
Marvin  unless  he  could  contrive  some  way  to  get  him  out  of 
6 


42  CORA   O'KANE,    OR 

O'Kane's  clutches.  "  But  how  is  this  to  be  done?  "  said  he  to  him- 
self. "  Here  I  am  all  alone,  and  not  in  a  very  comfortable  place 
any  how ;  but,"  said  he,  stretching  himself  up  to  his  full  height, 
"  wherever  there's  a  will,  there's  a  way.  The  first  thing  I  must  do 
is  to  find  a  good  gun.  This  little  sword  is  good  enough  in  its 
place ;  but  I  reckon  it  ain't  just  the  thing  for  this  undertaking.  I 
let  Corp'  Smith  have  my  old  Long  Tom.  Blackberries  and  sugar  ! 
If  I  only  had  it  now  !     I  must  stir  about,  and  see  what  I  can^nd." 

After  Archie  had  stood  a  few  moments  in  meditation,  he  started 
off  in  quest  of  a  gun.  While  roaming  over  the  field,  thinking  he 
might  perhaps  find  something  that  would  answer  his  purpose,  to  his 
utter  astonishment  and  delight  he  discovered  among  some  debris  on 
the  field  "  old  Long  Tom."  As  he  extricated  the  gun  from  the 
mass  of  rubbish  partly  concealing  it  from  view,  he  exclaimed,  — 

"  Wal,  this  is  curious  enough  !  Corp'  Smith  must  be  a  goner. 
Now  for  a  sufficient  supply  of  ammunition,  and  I'm  all  right." 

After  Archie  found  himself  perfectly  equipped,  he  started  in  the 
direction  of  Warsaw.  While  plodding  along,  he  discovered  a  negro 
cabin  a  short  distance  ahead.  Stepping  a  little  farther  into  the 
woods,  and  winding  around,  he  cautiously  approached  the  back  side 
of  the  cabin,  where  he  stopped  and  listened.  Satisfied  that  no  one 
was  there,  he  ventured  around  to  the  front,  and,  seeing  the  door 
open,  looked  in.  Observing  no  one  but  an  old  negress,  he  stepped 
in,  and  asked  when  she  was  last  in  Warsaw. 

"  O,  massa  !  "  replied  the  old  woman,  "  a  man  is  going  to  be  tried 
and  hung  there,  and  my  old  man  is  coming  home  soon,  and  will  tell 
you  all  about  it." 

"What  has  this  man  done,  that  they  are  going  to  hang  him?  " 
asked  Archie. 

The  old  woman,  looking  Archie  straight  in  the  face,  replied, 
*  These  are  bad  times,  massa.     Nobody  knows  their  friends." 

"  That's  so,"  answered  Archie  ;  "  but  I  will  be  your  friend  if  you 
will  tell  me." 

"Wal,  massa,  all  I  knows  of  it  is  what  Jim  Thompson,  a  colored 
man  that  preaches  to  us,  said.  He  told  us  that  Massa  Lincoln, 
away  up  north,  was  going  to  send  an  army  down  here  to  free  us 
poor  people ;  and  that  the  «army  had  come,  and  they  have  had 
a  fight,  and  this  man  was  taken  prisoner,  and  they  are  going  to 
hang  him  ;  and  Jim  said  the  curse  of  Almighty  God  would  be  upon 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  43 

tjbem  if  they  did  so.     Jim  told  us  to  go  home  and  pray  for  him, 
and  do  all  in  our  power  for  him." 

"  Wal,"  said  Archie,  "will  you  do  it?  " 

*  Golly,  massa  !  I  reckon  I  will." 

"  Wal,"  continued  Archie,  "  I  am  that  man's  friend.  I  have 
come  to  help  him,  and  shall  try  to  rescue  him  from  the  hands  of 
the  rebels ;  and  I  want  to  nnd  a  place  where  I  can  remain  in  safety, 
to  make  preparations.     Do  you  understand  me?" 

"  O  golly,  massa !  I  think  I  can  look  through  the  whole  of  it. 
Come  along  with  me,  and  I  will  show  you  a  place  where  you  will 
be  safe." 

The  old  woman  led  Archie  into  the  woods,  and  showed  him  the 
place  where  he  was  to  take  up  his  abode  for  a  while.  It  was  a 
cabin  made  by  the  uprooting  of  a  large  southern  oak,  and  around 
it  grew  groups  of  little  trees  as  thick  as  chaparral.  A  person 
would  have  to  be  well  acquainted  with  the  locality,  to  find  the  path 
leading  to  the  cabin. 

"  You  can  remain  here,"  said  the  old  woman,  "  and  I  will  bring 
you  your  meals.  My  old  man  will  be  home  soon,  and  I  will  send 
him  to  you." 

Archie  felt  happy,  that,  so  far,  he  had  succeeded  so  well.  The 
old  woman  returned  to  her  cabin,  and  found  there  the  old  man.  She 
told  him  that  a  man  had  been  there,  and  was  now  in  the  oak  cabin. 
"Golly,  Pompey ! "  continued  she,  "you  think  yourself  big;  but 
j«ou  are  no  size  to  dat  man.  He's  come  to  help  de  man  dat's  in 
prison." 

"  Wal,"  said  Pompey,  "  I'll  go  and  see  him  right  off.  I  see  Jim 
Thompson  to-day,  and  he  said  he'd  been  praying  for  the  poor  man 
all  night." 

The  old  man  immediately  went  and  saw  Archie.  When  Pompey 
beheld  his  large  figure,  it  made  him  stare.  Archie  informed  him 
of  his  intention  to  rescue  the  man  who  was  going  to  be  hung,  and 
said  he  wished  Pompey 's  help. 

"I  can't  help  you  much  myself,"  said  the  latter ;  "  but  I'll  go  and 
see  Jim  Thompson  right  away,  and  have  him  come  here  this  blessed 
night.     He's  the  man  that  can  help  you." 

Marvin  remained  for  three  days  quietly  and  closely  guarded.  His 
room  was  large  and  well  lighted,  and  the  only  privilege  he  had  was 
to  look   out  of  the  window,    which  was   securely  barred.      The 


44  CORA   O'KAra,    OR 

exercise  which  was  allowed  was  in  walking  slowly  up  and  down  his 
room  in  constant  meditation,  and  often  would  the  joyous  scenes  of 
his  boyhood  pass  in  review  before  him.  How  melancholy  did  he 
feel  when  he  saw  all  the  inspiring  anticipations  of  the  future 
crushed  forever,  and  himself  cut  down  before  he  had  reached  the 
meridian  of  life  !  and  yet  more  than  once  he  detected  himself  plan- 
ning some  method  of  escape,  or  wondering  if  Archie  was  yet  alive, 
and  would  not  attempt  his  rescue. 

In  fact,  he  could  not  think  of  dying  without  a  shudder ;  yet  he 
had  a  clear  conscience,  and  when  he  retired  to  rest  his  sleep  was  as 
sweet  as  childhood's.  He  knew  that  he  was  not  confined  for  com- 
mitting a  brutal  crime,  but  simply  for  defending  his  country,  and 
devoting  himself  to  the  preservation  of  its  institutions  and  liberties. 
As  he  was  slowly  pacing  his  room  up  and  down,  the  officer  of  the 
guard  entered,  and  said  that  the  time  of  his  trial  would  be  on  the 
morrow,  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  and  he  must  be  prepared 
for  it.     Marvin  bowed  assent  to  the  officer,  who  then  left  the  room. 

The  next  morning  Marvin  arose  with  the  sun.  It  was  a  beauti- 
ful morning,  although  there  was  every  indication  of  a  sultry  day. 
At  a  quarter  before  nine  o'clock,  the  officer  again  entered  the  room, 
and  informed  Marvin  that  the  time  had  arrived  for  him  to  march  to 
headquarters  for  trial.  Marvin  then  advanced  towards  the  door, 
where  he  was  commanded  to  step  between  the  files  of  soldiers  and 
march.  The  headquarters  were  situated  at  the  hotel,  some  little 
distance  from  the  house  where  he  had  been  confined.  As  he 
marched  along,  the  people  pressed  forward,  eager  to  catch  a  glimpse 
of  the  prisoner ;  and  among  the  crowd  he  observed  one  shining 
blade  face  gazing  upon  him  that  gave  him  a  thrill  of  hope. 

When  he  reached  the  hotel,  the  people  had  surrounded  the  house, 
demanding  admission  ;  but  this  was  objected  to  by  Colonel  O'Kane. 
Only  a  few  of  the  more  influential  rebels  were  admitted.  The  main 
street  was  crowded  with  people,  as  never  before  had  the  town  been 
so  excited.  The  pent-up  bitterness  of  the  rebel  heart  was  poured 
out  in  vehement  curses  upon  the  head  of  the  prisoner.  If  there 
had  been  a  man  in  the  crowd  around  him  that  sympathized  with 
him,  it  would  have  been  madness  and  certain  death  to  have  given 
utterance  to  his  feelings. 

Some  of  O'Kane's  soldiers  were  loitering  about,  and  laughing 
over  the  success  of  their  first  fight,,  while  others  cursed  Wilson,  and 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  45 

exulted  in  his  capture,  and  longed  to  see  him  die ;  and  one  that  had 
a  brother  killed  in  the  battle  was  heard  to  say  that  he  wished  the 
colonel  would  give  him  the  privilege  of  disposing  of  him  ;  he  would 
tear  out  his  heart,  and  the  cracking  of  his  bones  would  be  music  to 
his  oars.  When  he  had  ended  this  speech,  the  coarse  laugh  of  the 
soldiery  might  be  heard  at  some  distance,  which  told  too  well  that 
they  were  all  the  slaves  of  sordid  minds. 

Marvin  was  marched  into  the  room  where  sat  O'Kane  as  the 
president  of  the  court  martial,  with  his  clerk  seated  by  his  side. 
Marvin  was  ordered  by  the  guard  to  be  seated.  For  a  few  moments 
silence  reigned.  The  clerk  then  ordered  Marvin  to  rise,  while  he 
read  the  charges  that  were  preferred  against  him. 

"  You,  Marvin  Wilson,  are  indicted  on  the  following  charges  : 
First,  when  a  member  of  the  legislature,  you  refused  to  vote  for 
the  Military  League  Bill.  Second,  for  opposing,  and  enticing  others 
to  oppose,  the  Confederate  government.  Third,  for  giving  aid  to 
the  enemies  of  the  state.  Fourth,  when  war  was  upon  us,  you 
enlisted  under  the  flag  of  our  enemies,  and  were  taken  with  arms  in 
your  hands." 

"  Guilty,  or  not  guilty  ?  "  asked  the  clerk. 

While  the  clerk  was  reading  the  charges  preferred  against  him, 
Marvin  stood  gazing  vacantly  over  the  room ;  and,  now  that  a  di- 
rect question  was  put  to  him,  he  answered,  — 

"  Guilty,  if  that  be  guilt." 

The  room  was  now  cleared  of  spectators,  and  the  prisoner  taken 
back  to  confinement,  while  0?Kane  and  his  officers  remained  to  de- 
liberate upon  his  fate.  In  about  an  hour  Marvin  was  again  sent 
for,  and  was  once  more  removed  to  the  hotel  to  receive  his  doom. 
It  was  filled  with  individuals  anxious  to  hear  the  final  determination 
of  the  inquisition.  Marvin  was  marched  in  front  of  his  judge,  and 
the  clerk  proceeded  to  pronounce  his  sentence.  It  was  death  upon 
the  scaffold.  Two  days  were  given  to  him  to  prepare  for  eternity. 
Marvin  was  asked  if  he  had  anything  to  say.  He  arose,  and,  turn- 
ing to  O'Kane,  said,  — 

"  Some  in  war  are  fortunate,  others  unfortunate ;  and  I  belong 
to  the  latter  class.  You  may  assume  the  authority  to  deprive  me 
of  life,  but  my  soul  will  fly  to  the  God  who  gave  it.  O'Kane, 
remember  that  there  is  a  supremely  just  and  righteous  God,  and, 
sooner  or  later,  we  shall  both  be  summoned  to  appear  before  his 


46 

judgment-seat.  Then  will  you  have  to  answer  for  this  infamous 
deed  that  you  are  about  to  commit.     This  is  all  I  have  to  say." 

Marvin  was  removed  to  his  old  quarters,  and  the  crowd  within 
and  around  the  tavern  disappeared.  O'Kane  returned  to  his  private 
room,  but  not,  however,  without  feeling  a  sort  of  undefined  symp- 
tom of  uneasiness. 

It  was  almost  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  when  Pompey  made  his 
promise  good  by  bringing  Jim  Thompson  to  the  white  oak  cabin 
where  Archie  was.  The  moon  was  shining  so  brightly  that  they 
could  see  each  other  while  conversing.  Archie  inquired  of  Thomp- 
son if  he  was  a  friend  to  the  man  who  was  condemned  to  die. 
He  replied,  "I  am,  and  this  blessed  day  the  soldiers  took  him 
out  of  Massa  Robinson's  house,  where  he  has  been  shut  up  and 
guarded  by  soldiers,  and  brought  him  to  old  Mason's  hotel  to  have 
his  trial ;  and  he  is  to  be  hung  day  after  to-morrow,  and  I  pray  to 
God  Almighty  for  help  to  set  him.  free." 

"  Then,"  said  Archie,  "  I  want  you  to  go  with  me  this  very  night 
to  Warsaw.  I  want  to  get  as  near  Clay's  Settlement  as  I  can  by 
daylight." 

This  Thompson  agreed  to  do.  In  a  little  while  after,  Archie  had 
cautiously  passed  the  town.  The  next  day,  at  nightfall,  he  reached 
the  Settlement,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  arouse  the  settlers.  Some 
thirty  of  them  volunteered  their  services  when  Archie  announced 
that  the  life  of  Captain  Wilson  was  in  danger,  and  that  his  person 
was  in  custody  of  the  rebels.  The  settlers  hastened  to  supply  them- 
selves with  ammunition,  and  within  an  hour  after  the  arrival  of 
Archie  they  were  prepared  to  march. 

Archie  and  the  settlers  pushed  on  towards  Warsaw  with  alacrity. 
The  anxiety  of  Archie  was  so  great  for  the  fate  of  his  friend,  that 
he  was  constantly  a  few  rods  in  advance  of  his  comrades.  They 
made  such  diligent  use  of  their  limbs,  that  just  at  night  on  the  day 
after  Wilson  had  been  sentenced  they  came  to  a  halt  in  a  dark  and 
almost  impenetrable  ravine,  about  half  a  mile  below  the  summit  of 
the  little  hill  upon  which  the  gallows  was  erected.  The  next  morn- 
ing after  Marvin  received  his  sentence  ahe  awoke  from  a  refreshing 
sleep,  infinitely  better  in  health  and  spirits.  Grief  soon  subsides, 
and  the  higher  its  flow,  the  sooner  it  ebbs.  Marvin  began  to  com- 
prehend his  situation  ;  he  thought  over  the  scenes  of  the  day  before, 
and  when  he  remembered  that  he  was  doomed  to  die  on  the  morrow, 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  47 

his  feelings  experienced  a  shock  that  even  the  sentence  of  O'Kane 
had  failed  to  give  them.  All  this  argued  the  return  of  a  healthy 
state  of  mind  as  well  as  body. 

When  the  guard  again  presented  himself,  Marvin  preferred  a 
request  for  writing  materials,  saying  that  he  wished,  in  a  measure, 
to  arrange  his  business  before  he  made  his  final  exit  from  the  stage 
of  action ;  but  this  favor  was  refused,  and  he  was  left  alone.  In 
the  afternoon,  he  was  visited  by  the  minister  who  officiated  as  chap- 
lain of  O'Kane's  Guard,  who  came  to  administer  to  the  prisoner 
the  spiritual  comforts  of  the  gospel.  The  worthy  individual  talked 
for  a  long  time  upon  the  horror  of  treason  to  the  state,  and  the  un- 
pardonable sin  of  rebellion  against  the  government  of  the  Lord's 
anointed.  Matters  assumed  to  Marvin  a  more  serious  aspect  than 
they  had  seemed  to  wear.  When  the  minister  announced  his  er- 
rand, it  appeared  to  bring  death  and  himself  into  frightful  proxim- 
ity. There  was  something  inexpressibly  chilling  to  his  feelings  in 
coldly  setting  about  making  preparations  for  his  final  departure. 
He  knew  that  preparation  for  so  important  an  event  was  highly 
necessary,  but,  despite  all  his  efforts,  he  could  not  bring  his  mind 
to  think  calmly  upon  the  subject.  The  worthy  divine  left  him,. ex- 
pressing his  fears  that  his  latter  end  would  be  worse  than  the  first. 

O'Kane  rose  early  next  morning,  and  began  making  prepara- 
tions for  the  execution,  which  was  appointed  to  take  place  early  in 
the  evening,  just  after  the  setting  of  the  sun.  How  he  oame  to 
designate  this  unusual  hour  as  the  time  for  the  unhallowed  sacrifice 
he  intended  to  make  he  could  not  tell ;  yet  he  could  not  bring  him- 
self to  perpetrate  the  diabolical  deed  with  God's  fair  sun  a  witness 
to  the  transaction.  He  "  loved  darkness  rather  than  light,"  and  it 
was,  undoubtedly,  because  his  "deeds  were  evil." 

The  spot  selected  for  the  execution  was  just  outside  the  compact 
portion  of  the  village,  on  the  side  of  a  little  hill  which  gently  rose 
from  the  bank  of  a  small  streamlet.  A  rough,  ill-construoted 
gallows  was  declared  to  be  in  a  state  of  readiness  a  little  past  noon. 
An  hour  before  the  setting  of  the  sun,  one  of  the  guard  entered  the 
room,  and  bade  him  prepare  to  march  immediately  to  the  place  of" 
execution.  Marvin  obeyed  ;  and,  when  he  emerged  from  the  house, 
the  armed  rebels  filed  into  a  square,  leaving  him  in  the  centre,  and, 
led  by  O'Kane,  bent  their  steps  slowly  to  the  little  hill  upon  which 
the  gallows  was  erected.     A  large  concourse  had  collected  here, 


48  cora  o'kane,  or 

to  witness  the  approach  of  the  condemned.  A  passage  was  cleared 
by  the  Guards  on  the  arrival  of  the  prisoner,  and  in  a  short  time 
after  he  was  seated  on  the  gallows.  The  settlers  were  sent  out 
upon  the  afternoon  of  the  execution,  and  mingled  with  the  crowd. 
"When  the  cavalcade  started  for  the  gallows,  they  cautiously  de- 
tached themselves  from  the  multitude,  and  again  sought  their  com- 
rades. Xo  time  was  to  be  lost, — a  moment  might  thwart  their 
intentions,  —  and  Archie  formed  his  men  in  order,  and  marched 
from  the  ravine  towards  the  little  hill.  Just  as  Marvin  mounted 
the  scaffold,  they  came  in  view  of  the  machine  of  death,  and  halted, 
in  such  a  position  as  would,  in  all  probability,  owing  to  the  intense 
interest  in  the  execution,  shelter  them  from  observation.  After  his 
men  were  covered,  Archie  marched  boldly  up  to  the  crowd,  pushed 
his  way  through  the  Guard,  and,  mounting  the  steps,  stood  the  next 
moment  upon  the  scaffold,  in  front  of  O'Kane.  Marvin  uttered  an 
exclamation  of  surprise  ;  but,  if  an  apparition  from  the  world  of 
spirits  had  stared  him  full  in  the  face,  O'Kane  could  not  have  been 
more  completely  thunderstruck.  Many  of  the  rebels  well  knew 
Archie  Carter,  —  some  of  them  to  their  cost,  —  and  a  suppressed 
whisper  of  his  name  soon  ran  round  the  cr^d.  The  rebels  looked 
fierce,  and  awaited  orders  from  O'Kane ;  while  a  gleam  of  satisfac- 
tion was  plain lv  to  be  seen  upon  the  countenances  of  the  Unionists, 
who  crowded  as  near  to  the  scaffold  as  they  possibly  could. 

"What  are  you  going  to  do,  reprobate?"  said  Archie,  bringing 
his  heavy  rifle  down  upon  the  scaffold  with  a  force  that  caused 
O'Kane  to  start  and  turn  pale.  "  What  do  you  mean  to  do?  Have 
you  forgotten  Archie  Carter  so  soon?"  • 

"I  have  not  forgotten  you,  as  you  will  find  to  your  cost,"  said 
O'Kane,  after  he  had  in  a  measure  recovered  from  the  shock  he  had 
received  from  the  unlooked-for  presence  of  Archie.  "  At  present  we 
are  going  to  ad  minster  justice  to  a  condemned  criminal,  and  after 
that  we  will  attend  to  your  case." 

"You  administer  justice!"  cried  Archie,  furiously,  shaking  his 
huge  fist  in  O'Kane's  face.  "  You  talk  about  justice,  you  skimmings 
of  the  devils  wickedness  !  Zounds  !  if  I  hain't  a  mind  to  string 
you  upon  this  very  frame,  you  miserable  devil  that  you  are." 

A  loud  shout  from  the  Unionists  in  the  crowd  attested  their  satis- 
faction at  seeing  the  haughty  O'Kane  bearded  in  the  presence  of  his 
minions.     O'&.ne  was  enraged  beyond  bounds,  and  shouted,  -— 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  49 

"  Seize  the  villain  !  * 

*  So  I  will,"  interrupted  Archie,  at  the  same  time  depositing  his 
rifle  on  the  scaffold,  and  seizing  O'Kane  by  the  throat.  "  So  I  will 
seize  the  villain  ;  for  may  I  be  cussed  if  you  ain't  the  man,  if  they 's 
any  such  a  one  present."  At  the  same  time,  Archie  inflicted  several 
severe  blows  upon  his  face ;  then  taking  him  with  one  hand  by  the 
leg,  with  the  other  remaining  upon  his  throat,  he  threw  him  from 
the  scaffold  into  the  crowd  below.  Drawing  his  knife  from  his  belt, 
he  cut  the  cords  which  bound  Marvin,  and  handing  him  the  weapon, 
he  said,  — 

w  Defend  yourself,  my  lad  ;  bless  me,  but  we'll  expalify  the  whole 
bilin'  on  'em  !  " 

Seeing  their  leader  assaulted  in  this  unceremonious  manner,  sev- 
eral of  the  rebel  Guard  rushed  towards  the  scaffold.  But  they  were 
intercepted  by  a  little  knot  of  Unionists,  who  had  taken  post  imme- 
diately in  front  of  it.  A  warm  scuffle  here  ensued  ;  but  the  Union- 
ists, being  few  in  number,  were  compelled  to  give  way,  and  about 
a  dozen  rushed  up  the  steps  to  secure  Archie  Carter.  The  frail 
platform  could  not  sustain  the  accumulated  weight  of  all,  and  with 
a  loud  crash  it  came  to  the  ground.  A  moment  afterwards,  Archie 
uttered  a  loud  yell,  and  the  settlers  came  pouring  down  the  hill  from 
the  ambush. 

"Come  on  !  "  shouted  Archie,  as  he  saw  his  men  issue  from  the 
forest.     w  Come  on,  my  lads,  the  victory  is  ours  !  " 

The  women  and  children  in  the  crowd  ran  screaming  in  all  direc- 
tions. The  unarmed  Unionists,  uttering  a  shout,  scattered  also,  to 
arm  themselves  as  best  they  might ;  and  altogether  the  scene  was 
one  of  confusion. 

w  Fire  upon  the  pirates  !  "  shouted  O'Kane,  who  had  regained  his 
feet,  and  was  in  a  terrible  rage.  A  part  of  his  Guard  instantly 
formed,  and  discharged  a  volley  at  the  Unionists,  two  of  whom  fell 
to  rise  no  more. 

"  Pepper  'em  I  my  boys  ;  pepper  'em  !  "  shouted  Archie,  in  a  tow- 
ering passion. 

The  Unionists  obeyed,  and  in  an  instant  a  sharp  volley  was  dis- 
charged at  their  opponents,  who,  seeing  several  in  their  ranks  sink 
.  to  the  earth,  turned  and  fled  in  the  direction  of  the  village,  pursued 
by  Archie  and  his  men  a  short  distance. 

In  the  morning,  the  bodies  of  those  killed  in  the  affray  were 
7 


50  CORA   O'KANE,    OR 

decently  interred ;  and  the  men,  accompanied  by  Captain  Wilson 
and  Archie,  departed  on  their  return  to  Clay's  Settlement.  When 
they  arrived  there,  "Captain  Wilson  received  the  congratulations  of 
all  on  his  providential  escape. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

As  Martin  drove  swiftly  away,  Cora  well  knew  that  it  would  be 
useless  for  her  to  attempt  a  struggle,  or  raise  an  alarm,  and  she  re- 
signed herself  to  her  melancholy  situation,  and  bitter  thoughts  filled 
her  mind.  Martin  urged  his  horse  to  the  utmost  speed.  What  was 
to  be  her  fate  she  could  not  conjecture ;  she  knew  very  well  that  her 
uncle  meant  her  destruction  by  what  he  said  in  the  hall.  It  seemed 
to  her  that  she  was  sitting  by  the  side  of  her  murderer ;  for,  when 
he  was  introduced  to  her,  she  came  to  the  conclusion  that  he  was  a 
ruffian,  hired  to  transport  her  to  some  convenient  and  isolated  place, 
and  there  despatch  her.  At  all  events,  she  knew,  even  if  that  was 
the  case,  she  was  completely  in  his  power ;  and  she  felt,  in  her  in- 
most heart,  that  an  appeal  to  his  mercy  would  avail  her  nothing. 
Just  as  the  day  dawned  they  arrived  at  a  small  cabin  a  little  way 
from  the  road.  Here  Martin  halted  in  front  of  the  door.  He 
jumped  out  and  tied  his  horse,  then  assisted  Cora  to  alight,  and 
ushered  her  into  a  narrow,  dirty  room.  By  his  actions  he  appeared 
to  be  on  familiar  terms  with  the  inmates  of  the  cabin,  and  perfectly 
at  ease.  He  instructed  them  to  prepare  breakfast,  while  he  went 
out  to  give  some  provender  to  his  horse ;  and  here  he  discovered  a 
basket  of  provisions,  which  he  brought  into  the  house.  He  then 
opened  it,  and  put  part  of  it  upon  the  table,  to  help  make  out  the 
meal.  Breakfast  being  now  ready,  they  sat  down  and  partook  of  it 
in  silence.  After  Martin  had  refreshed  himself,  he  stepped  out  and 
gave  his  horse  some  water,  and  at  the  same  time  put  his  provisions 
into  the  wagon.  He  then  stepped  back  to  the  door,  and  told  Cora 
that  he  was  ready.  Helping  her  into  the  wagon,  he  drove  leisurely 
along.  For  over  two  miles  they-  rode  without  speaking.  Then 
Martin  broke  silence,  and  said,  "  I  am  not  going  to  murder  you,  nor 
insult  your  person ;  but,  if  you  will  keep  your  tongue  to  yourself, 
say  not  a  word,  it  will  be  much  better  for  you.  To-night  we  will 
have  to  stop  at  a  tavern,  and  I  will  provide  a  good  room  for  you." 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  51 

As  they  rode  along,  the  heat  of  the  sun  became  intense,  and  very 
oppressive  to  Cora.  Martin,  seeing  this,  stopped  his  horse,  alighted 
from  the  wagon,  and  cut  some  green  boughs  that  grew  by  the  road- 
side, and  placed  them  in  such  a  manner  as  to  shield  Cora  from  the 
oppressive  heat  of  the  sun.  The  sun  was  nearly  down  when  they 
reached  the  tavern.  As  Martin  drove  up  to  the  door,  a  man  came 
out,  and  said,  — 

"Well,  Martin,  how  are  you?     What  news  up  your  way?" 

"  The  war  has  come  ;  and  they  are  fighting  right  smart,  I  reckon," 
replied  Martin. 

By  this  time  he  had  jumped  out  of  the  wagon,  and  handed  out 
Cora. 

"Pinkey,  show  this  girl  into  the  house,  and  have  the  old  woman, 
get  us  some  supper,  while  I  unhitch  the  horse." 

The  man  ushered  Cora  into  the  house ;  and  a  poor  apology  for  a 
tavern  it  was  too.  As  soon  as  Cora  had  taken  off  her  bonnet  and 
outside  garments,  she  inquired  of  the  woman  if  she  could  have 
some  water  carried  to  her  room,  so  that  she  might  cleanse  herself,  as 
she  was  hot,  tired,  and  dusty.  The  woman  replied  in  the  affirma- 
tive.    Martin  now  entered,  and  said,  — 

"  Pretty  red  day,  Pinkey." 
y.mI  reckon,"  said  Pinkey. 

Supper  being  now  ready,  Cora  and  Martin  sat  down  to  their  meal 
of  pork,  hoe-cake,  and  honey.  After  Cora  had  eaten,  she  went 
directly  to  her  room.  The  room  which  she  was  to  occupy  was 
partitioned  off  from  the  main  one,  with  rough  cypress  boards.  As 
Cora  closed  the  door,  the  woman  said  to  Martin,  — 

"  Right  smart  girl  that." 

"Yes,"  said  Martin,  "  but  born  for  heaps  of  bad  luck,  I  reckon." 

After  Cora  had  overheard  the  remark  of  Martin,  she  concluded 
to  keep  awake,  in  the  hope  of  hearing  something  in  regard  to  her 
destination  ;  but  at  length  she  felt  a  drowsiness  creeping  upon  her. 
Despite  her  exertions  to  keep  awake,  she  dropped  her  head  upon 
her  pillow,  and  fell  asleep ;  and  in  the  dreams  of  home  she  forgot 
the  wretchedness  of  her  situation.  She  slept  until  she  was  aroused 
by  the  woman  in  the  morning.  As  soon  as  breakfast  was  de- 
spatched, Martin  and  Cora  were  upon  the  road.  About  noon  they 
arrived  at  a  small  house,  where  they  took  dinner,  and  immediately 
resumed  their  journey.     So  adroit  was  Martin  in  the  management 


52  CORA   O'KANE,    OR 

of  affairs,  that  Cora  found  it  utterly  impossible  to  speak  to  any  one 
at  the  last  stopping-place,  and  she  proceeded  on  her  way  with  a 
heavy  heart.  Martin  pursued  the  remainder  of  the  journey  with 
the  utmost  speed,  barely  stopping  for  refreshments.  On  the  even- 
ing of  the  third  day  after  leaving  Osceola,  Cora  was  securely  located 
under  the  roof  of  Martin's  relatives.  On  the  day  after  her  arrival, 
she  was  visited  in  her  room  by  Martin's  aunt,  a  rough-looking  woman, 
bearing  in  her  arms  a  coarse  cotton  home-made  dress,  which  the 
old  woman  commanded  her  to  put  on,  in  place  of  the  one  she  then 
wore.  She  was  forced  to  comply,  and  the  woman  left  her  to  pursue 
her  own  amusement,  if  such  could  be  found.  All  hope  had  entirely 
deserted  Cora.  She  could  not  even  bring  herself  to  view  her  truly 
deplorable  situation  with  anything  like  patience  or  resignation.  Shut 
out  entirely  from  the  world,  destitute  of  a  companion,  or  even  a 
book,  she  was  compelled  to  pass  away  the  tedious  hours  in  perfect 
idleness  ;  the  most  irksome  situation  that  can  well  be  imagined  for 
one  so  young,  and  naturally  of  so  lively  a  disposition,  as  Cora. 

All  this  time  Cora's  health  was  good ;  yet  she  sometimes  prayed 
for  death,  and  often  did  she  exclaim  to  herself,  "I  cannot  endure 
this  torment  much  longer."  Then  she  would  think  of  Marvin,  and 
her  heart  would  throb  with  the  hope  that  she  would  be  released,  and 
have  the  sweet  pleasure  of  seeing  him  again. 

One  afternoon,  as  Cora  was  sitting  in  her  lonely  room,  a  stranger 
entered  the  cabin,  and  commenced  conversation  with  the  old  woman. 
He  conversed  in  such  loud  tones  as  to  be  overheard  by  Cora,  who 
crept  to  the  door  of  her  room  to  hear  more  distinctly.  In  his  con- 
versation with  the  old  woman,  he  told  her  that  the  Union  troops 
were  driving  the  Confederates  right  before  them ;  "and  it  won't  be 
long  before  they  will  be  here,"  he  added. 

"  Sakes  alive  !  "  replied  the  old  woman,  "  what  shall  we  do  then  ?  " 

"  Wal,"  said  the  man,  "  we  must  get  over  into  Arkansas,  or  re- 
main and  take  the  consequences." 

Cora  was  glad  to  learn  that  the  Union  army  was  approaching, 
and  thought  it  might  possibly  be  the  means  of  her  release ;  but, 
finding  the  conversation  had  no  allusion  to  her,  returned  to  her  seat. 

After  Marvin  had  been  released  from  his  perilous  situation  by 
Archie  and  the  band  of  settlers,  the  reader  remembers  that  he  ac- 
companied Archie  and  the  settlers  to  Clay's  Settlement.  Marvin 
and  Archie  both  concluded  that  it  was  their  duty  to  join  the  Federal 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD*  53 

army,  which  Was  then  at  Rolla,  as  soon  as  possible,  which  they  did 
by  marching  through  pathless  forests.  On  the  26th  of  July, 
General  Fremont  arrived  at  St.  Louis  as  Military  Commander 
of  Missouri  and  its  adjacent  territory.  He  found  the  army  in' 
depressed  spirits.  Many  of  the  regiment's  time  of  service  had 
nearly  expired.  On  the  other  hand,  the  rebels  were  in  high  glee, 
as  they  felt  that  Missouri  would  rise  up  and  rally  around  the  Con- 
federate standard.  The  rebel  commanders  had  ordered  guerilla 
bands  to  be  organized,  to  operate  with  vigor,  night  and  day,  until 
they  had  rid  the  state  of  every  Union  man  ;  and  vigorously  did  they 
carry  on  their  hellish  work.  General  Fremont  saw  that  something 
must  be  done  to  stop  this  cruel  mode  of  warfare^  and  he  organized 
companies  for  this  espeeial  service,  consisting  of  one  hundred  men 
each.  They  were  to  be  mounted  infantry,  and  act  independently  of 
the  rest  of  the  army.  Of  one  of  these  companies  Marvin  Wilson 
received  the  command,  and  Archie  Carter  was  made  second  in 
command.  , 

On  the  1st  day  of  August,  this  company  marched  from  Rolla  to 
Lebanon.  At  sundown  they  halted  in  front  of  a  little  cabin,  where 
an  old  man  came  out,  supposing  them  to  be  rebels,  and  told  them 
that  O'Kane,  with  four  or  five  hundred  rebels,  was  in  the  vicinity 
of  Osceola.  The  company  here  bivouacked  for  the  night.  Xext 
morning,  Captain  Wilson  called  his  men  by  sunrise.  They  soon 
prepared  a  hasty  breakfast,  and  were  on  the  road  towards  Clay's 
Settlement.  When  Marvin  and  his  men  had  reached  the  river,  they 
discovered  a  skiff  drawn  up  on  the  shore. 

"Look  here,  Marvin,"  said  Archie;  "here's  O'Kane's  skiff.  I 
wronder  if  he's  round  these  diggin's.  I  rather  think  we  had  better 
keep  our  eyes  peeled." 

Captain  Wilson  now  ordered  two  men  to  ride  down  the  river,  to 
see  if  they  could  ascertain  anything  of  the  movements  of  O'Kane. 
They  shortly  returned  and  reported  that  all  was  quiet.  Archie 
su ^crested  to  Marvin  that  Second  Lieutenant  Rollins  should  take 
charge  of  the  men,  and  march  them  to  Clay's  Settlement,  keeping 
back  from  the  river  as  far  as  possible,  while  they  should  take  the 
skiff  and  go  by  water.  This  Marvin  assented  to.  In  a  few  min- 
utes, Lieutenant  Rollins,  with  the  company,  marched.  Marvin 
and  Archie  were  soon  on  their  way  down  the  river.  It  was  a  glo- 
rious morning.     The  birds  sang  sweetly  from  the  deep,  rich  foliage 


54  CORA  o'kane,  or 

of  the  forest ;  the  air  was  filled  with  the  perfumes  of  a  hundred 
different  wild  flowers ;  and  stretching  far  away  before  them  was  a 
bright  line  of  water,  as  smooth  and  unruffled  as  the  sky  above  them. 
Archie  labored  at  the  oars,  while  Marvin  sat  at  the  stern  of  the  little 
boat,  drinking  in  the  matchless  beauty  of  the  scene,  and  thinking 
of  Cora  O'Kane.  Even  Archie  himself  was  sensibly  touched  by 
the  splendid  view  about  him.  He  rolled  his  eyes  from  side  to  side, 
gazing  up  at  the  tall  trees  on  either  hand  with  lips  parted  and  nos- 
trils extended;  and  more  than  once  he  ceased  dipping  his  oars,  as 
some  new  picture  in  the  fairy  prospect  presented  itself  to  his  vision. 
He  finally  addressed  Marvin  in  relation  to  the  scenery  around  him. 

"I  tell  you,  Marvin,  that  this  is  a  vast  airth.  Now,  some  folks 
pretend  to  say  that  woman  is  the  greatest  feat  of  God's  workman- 
ship ;  but,  Marvin,  it  ain't  so,  no  way.  If  there  is  any  best  to  the 
Lord's  craft,  it's  this  airth  that  we  live  on.  I've  seen  a  good  deal 
on't,  Marvin,  and  I  know  it's  great!  " 

"It  is  indeed  a  beautiful  world,"  replied  Marvin. 

"  Bootiful !  "  exclaimed  Archie,  with  a  strong  expression  of  con- 
tempt upon  his  homely  features.  "Go  way  with  your  gal  talk, 
man.  I  say  it  ain't  bootiful :  it's  vast,  it's  mighty,  it's  big  !  It's 
made  so  a  purpose,  too.  It  shows  that  there's  some  one  in  exist- 
ence that's  got  a  mightier  arm  than  JetF  Davis  —  some  Spirit  that 
even  the  haughty  slave  master  must  obey." 

"That's true  enough,"  said  Marvin. 

"  True  as  Genesis,"  repeated  Archie  ;  "  and  I'll  be  cussed  if  I'd 
be  a  rebel  just  on  that  account." 

"  Why  so?"  inquired  Marvin. 

"  'Cause  it's  blasphemy  :  no  —  a  idolatry,  I  mean,"  said  Archie. 
"  I  argy  that  no  man  can  worship  a  human  bein',  as  these  men, 
called  rebels,  worship  the  slave-owners,  without  being  idolatrous. 
Blast  'em,  they  ought  to  be  sent  to  the  missionary  society,  to  get 
civilized !  " 

Archie  continued  to  draw  sage  conclusions  and  arguments  from 
almost  everything  that  attracted  his  attention,  and  the  consequence 
was,  that  the  voyage  proceeded  but  slowly.  Once  or  twice  Marvin 
ventured  to  hint  that  they  should  arrive  late  at  their  place  of  desti- 
nation ;  but  Archie  paid  no  manner  of  attention  to  him,  barely 
remarking,  at  one  time,  that  he  was  determined  to  argue  his  point 
out,  if  the  devil  forbade  him. 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD. 


55 


About  ten  o'clock  they  reached  a  place  where  the  river  assumed 
a  lake-like  form,  shooting  for  some  distance  into  the  green  forest  on 
either  side.  Kowing  to  the  shore  on  the  southern  side,  Archie  an- 
nounced his  intention  of  halting  long  enough  to  partake  of  his 
luncheon.  As  they  had  breakfasted  early,  Marvin  was  in  no  way 
disinclined  to  join  him  in  this  operation  ;  and  they  both  accordingly 
went  ashore.  As  Archie  was  proceeding  to  unroll  his  rations  from 
the  cloth  in  which  they  were  enveloped,  a  sound  in  the  forest  caught 
his  ear,  and  he  ceased  from  his  occupation.  He  listened  intently 
for  some  time,  and  then,  rising  upon  his  feet,  he  turned  to  Marvin, 

and  said,  — 

■  I  guess  we  mought  as  well  drag  the  skiff  into  the  bay  here,  and 
throw  a  little  brush  over  it,  and  then  hide." 

"  Why  so?"  inquired  Marvin,  who  had  likewise  assumed  a  stand- 
ing posture. 

w  You'll  see,  I  guess,"  said  Archie,  stooping  to  deposit  his  pro- 
visions upon  the  ground,  and  then  going  towards  the  skiff.  w  Come, 
let's  be  lively." 

Marvin  proceeded  to  assist  him  in  hauling  up  the  skiff;  but,  ere 
they  had  accomplished  their  task,  a  loud  laugh  in  the  forest  caused 
them  both  to  desist. 

"  We  must  let  the  skiff  go,  and  look  out  for  ourselves,"  said  Ar- 
chie, gazing  around  him  in  all  directions  for  a  place  in  which  to 
secrete  himself.  Just  across  the  arm  of  the  river  was  a  large  pile 
of  dried  brush,  which  caught  the  eye  of  Archie,  and  he  exclaimed, 
"  Come,  Marvin,  it'll  wet  your  breeches,  but  it  can't  be  helped.  W^e 
must  go  to  that  brush-heap." 

Without  further  ado,  Archie,  holding  his  rifle  in  one  hand  and 
his  provisions  in  the  other,  dashed  into  the  stream,  followed  by 
Marvin.  The  water  was  but  about  three  feet  deep,  and  some  eighty 
or  one  hundred  feet  broad;  and  they  soon  reached  the  opposite 
shore  in  safety,  and  then  concealed  themselves  beneath  the  heap  of 
brush.  They  soon  heard  the  trampling  of  many  men  in  the  woods, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  some  thirty  or  forty  whites,  and  nearly  as 
many  Indians,  came  into  view  a  few  rods  to  the  east  of  where  the 
skiff  was  lying.  Here  they  all  halted,  seeming  to  entertain  a  sim- 
ilar opinion  with  Archie  in  regard  to  eating  ;  for  they  immediately 
seated  themselves  upon  the  ground,  and  began  to  overhaul  their 
stores,  as  if  to  supply  the  wants  of  nature.     This  band  appeared  to 


56  CORA   O'KANE,    OK 

be  under  the  command  of  a  heavily-moulded  man,  who  issued  his 
orders  to  his  men  in  a  short,  peremptory  tone,  and  who  sat  apart, 
while  partaking  of  food,  in  gloomy  silence.  The  Indian  warriors 
were  headed  by  a  heavy-featured  half-breed,  in  whose  eye  the  glance 
of  a  hundred  devils  seemed  concentrated. 

There  appeared  to  be  but  little  discipline  among  either  whites 
or  savages ;  for  their  merriment  and  conversation  were  loud  and 
boisterous,  and  received  no  check  from  their  taciturn  leader.  After 
their  repast  was  concluded,  some  of  the  soldiers  proceeded  to  stray 
about  the  forest,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  their  halting-ground, 
while  others  stretched  themselves  on  the  ground,  with  their  heads 
placed  upon  their  knapsacks,  seeming  determined  to  rest  while  al] 
things  were  propitious.  Some  six  or  eight  of  the  strollers  wan- 
dered in  the  direction  of  the  arm  or  bay  before  mentioned  ;  and  one 
of  them,  espying  the  skiff,  gave  vent  to  an  ejaculation  which  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  his  comrades  to  the  same  object.  They 
were  soon  gathered  in  a  group  upon  the  shore,  speculating  upon  trie 
probable  means  by  which  the  skiff  came  in  that  place,  and  giving 
utterance  to  various  conjectures  as  to  who  its  occupants  had  beeny 
when  one  who  had  lagged  behind  his  comrades  came  up,  and,  seeing 
the  skiff,  exclaimed,  — 

w  I  know  that  boat !  That's  O'Kane's  boat.  I  could  swear  te 
it  in  any  place  !  " 

"  How  the  devil  came  O'Kane's  boat  here  ?  "  asked  two  or  three 
at  once. 

r  Probably  they  are  hunting  in  the  forest  hereabouts,"  replied  tho 
individual  who  had  spoken  first. 

K  They  have  hauled  up  the  skiff  here,  to  remain  until  they  are 
ready  to  return." 

R  What  track  is  this  ?  "  cried  another,  stooping  down  and  viewing 
the  soft  earth  near  the  shore. 

M  It's  the  print  of  a  stone-boat,  you  fool !  "  answered  a  comrade, 

"  What  the  devil  would  a  stone-boat  do  here?  "  asked  the  stoop- 
ing person. 

"  Eternity  !  what  a  foot !  "  exclaimed  another ;  and  in  a  few  mo- 
ments the  whole  group  were  viewing  the  print  of  Archie's  trusty  boot. 

t?  The  man  that  carries  that  foot  can  walk  on  the  water,"  cried 
one  of  the  men. 

"  How  the  devil  can  he  get  through  the  woods  ?  "  inquired  another. 


TOE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  57 

A  loud  laugh  at  this  interrogatory  issued  from  a  dozen  mouths  ; 
and  then,  as  if  satisfied  with  the  observations  that  had  been  made, 
the  knot  separated  and  rejoined  their  comrades.  They  were  soon 
again  under  arms  ;  and,  after  a  brief  survey  of  the  lines,  the  taci- 
turn leader  gave  forth  the  order  to  inarch,  and  the  whole  band 
started  off  in  the  direction  of  Clay's  Settlement. 

Marvin  and  Archie  continued  in  their  hiding-place  for  a  fall  half 
hoqj  after  they  had  departed,  before  they  emerged.  Archie  was  the 
first  to  crawl  from  beneath  the  brash  ;  when,  stretching  himself  to 
his  full  height,  and  yawning  once  or  twice,  he  again  seated  himself 
upon  the  ground,  and  coolly  proceeded  to  unroll  his  provisions. 
After  lie  had  displayed  his  food  upon  the  ground  in  a  manner  that 
suited  his  fancy,  he  turned  to  Marvin,  and  said,  — 

"  Some  of  them  chaps  was  determined  to  be  merry  at  the  expense 
of  my  foot  —  warn't  they,  Marvin,  eh?" 

Without  giving  Marvin  time  to  reply  to  this  question,  he  con- 
tinued, — 

M  He  thort  it  was  the  print  of  a  stone-boat ;  haw  !  haw  !  haw  ! 
Hang  me,  but  he'd  think  'twas  the  butt  eend  of  death,  if  it  should 
ever  get  foul  of  the  hind  part  of  his  trousers." 

"You  have  a  little  pride,  I  see,  Archie,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the 
world,"  responded  Marvin,  laughing. 

"Pride  !  "  said  Archie,  his  cheeks  distorted  with  cold  venison,  at 
the  same  time  glancing  complacently  at  his  foot,  which  was  lying 
carelessly  upon  the  ground.  "Pride  !  I  hain't  got  a  bit ;  but  then, 
captain,  it's  d — d  onginerous  to  ridicule  a  man's  parson,  when  he's 
jest  as  the  Lord  made  him." 

"  True  ;  but  it's  the  fate  of  war,"  replied  Marvin,  half  seriously. 

Archie  was  just  elevating  a  huge  slice  of  brown  bread  to  his 
mouth  ;  but  it  ceased  its  upward  motion  and  came  to  a  halt  as  he 
replied,  — 

"The  fate  of  tear,  Marvin!  Why,  bless  me,  man,  I  b'lieve 
you're  love-sick.  No,  sir,  it's  no  part  of  a  warrior  to  ridicule  a 
man's  parson.  I  know  I've  got  a  big  foot ;  but  you  must  remem- 
ber, sir,  that  I'm  a  team  all  over.  I'm  no  small  beer  by  a  consid- 
erable of  a  great  sight !  " 

Marvin  admitted  the  truth  of  Archie's  assertion,  and  they  con- 
cluded their  meal  in  silence.  After  it  was  finished,  and  Archie  had 
gathered  up  and  secured  the  fragments,  they  recrossed  the  bay,  and 
8 


58  CORA  O'KANE,    OR 

were  once  more  afloat  in  the  skiff,  Archie  merely  saying  that  it  was 
fortunate  that  they  had  found  a  hiding-place  before  the  rebels  per- 
ceived them.  "  'Case,"  said  he,  "  we  might  have  had  a  skrimmage  !  " 
Archie  directed  his  skiff  to  the  northern  shore,  and  vigorously  plied 
his  oars. 

They  were  not  long  in  arriving  at  the  confluence  of  the  Grand 
Creek  and  the  Osage,  when  they  carefully  secreted  the  boat,  and 
pushed  forward  to  the  Settlement  on  foot. 

Lieutenant  Rollins  and  the  men  arrived  at  the  Settlement  about 
the  same  time  with  Marvin  and  Archie.  They  were  joyously  re- 
ceived by  the  inhabitants ;  yet  they  found  them  in  the  greatest  state 
of  alarm,  and  in  momentary  expectation  of  an  attack  from  O'Kane's 
rebels,  and  a  detachment  of  Pike's  Indians  who  were  temporarily 
under  O'Kane. 

The  women  and  children  were  placed  within  the  fort ;  the  cattle 
were  driven  up  into  the  yards ;  sentinels  were  posted  in  the  forest 
around  them  in  different  directions,  and  everything  that  could  con- 
tribute to  a  vigorous  and  determined  defence  was  placed  in  some 
convenient  situation.  Captain  Wilson  and  Lieutenant  Carter  de- 
tailed their  meeting  with  the  rebels  and  Indians  in  the  woods ;  and 
the  fact  of  their  continuing  their  march  in  an  easterly  direction 
Wemed  to  confirm  their  fears  and  suspicions  of  an  attack. 

Soon  after  sundown,  all  sought  refuge  in  the  fort,  which,  although 
not  built  in  a  scientific  form,  was  sufficiently  large  and  secure  against 
the  attack  of  any  troop  destitute  of  artillery. 

In  the  evening,  a  consultation  was  called  in  the  fort  by  the  chief 
men  in  the  Settlement,  and  Captain  Wilson  and  Lieutenant  Carter 
were  of  course  called  upon  to  participate  in  their  deliberations.  A 
plan  of  defence  was  agreed  upon  in  case  they  should  be  attacked ; 
and,  as  the  inhabitants  were  well  aware  that  they  could  not  expect 
any  mercy  from  the  Indians,  and  scarcely  any  from  the  rebels,  it 
was  determined  to  fight  until  the  last. 

After  the  conclusion  of  the  consultation,  the  guns  and  ammuni- 
tion of  all  were  closely  inspected  ;  and  all  but  the  sentinels  on  duty 
retired  to  rest. 

All  was  silent  and  undisturbed  until  near  midnight,  when  the  sen- 
tinel stationed  farthest  in  the  forest  to  the  west  of  the  Settlement, 
discharged  his  gun,  and  hastily  retreated  towards  the  fort.  The 
alarm  soon  spread,  and  in  a  short  time  every  man  in  the  fort  was 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  59 

under  arms,  and  prepared  for  battle.  They  were  not  long  in  expec- 
tation ;  for,  a  few  minutes  after  the  sentinel  who  gave  the  alarm 
had  entered  the  fort,  the  troops  seen  by  Marvin  and  Archie  in  the 
morning,  with  a  strong  reenforcement  that  had  joined  them  on  the 
way,  made  their  appearance,  accompanied  by  the  Indians.  As  soon 
as  they  were  discovered,  a  burst  of  horror  escaped  the  lips  of  sev- 
eral of  the  women  in  the  fort,  and  the  exclamations  of  "  O'Kane  ! " 
and  "  Pike's  Indians  !  "  were  passed  from  ear  to  ear. 

It  was  indeed  those  ruthless  marauders,  who  continued,  during  a 
portion  of  the  rebellion,  to  heap  more  odium  upon  their  heads  than 
ever  before  fell  to  the  lot  of  individuals  like  themselves,  who  were 
marching  now  to  the  attack  of  Clay's  Settlement.  They  had  been 
strongly  reenforced  by  a  detachment  sent  on  by  General  Price  to 
cooperate  with  them,  and,  panting  for  blood,  and  revenge  upon  the 
Unionists,  had  approached  the  fort. 

The  name  of  O'Kane,  and  the  presence  of  the  savages,  seemed 
to  strike  a  chill  to  the  heart  of  every  woman  and  child  of  the 
Settlement. 

At  this  moment,  Captain  Wilson  and  Archie  formed  their  men  in 
such  a  position  that  they  felt  that  it  was  impossible  for  O'Kane's 
men  to  enter ;  so  they  let  them  approach  within  short  range. 
Lieutenant  Carter  now,  in  a  voice  of  thunder,  commanded  his 
squad  to  fire.  Captain  Wilson  immediately  followed  the  example 
of  Carter,  and  commanded  his  squad  to  fire.  At  this  moment  a 
tall  spire  of  flame,  from  a  barn  near  the  fort,  cast  a  bright  and 
fearful  glare  over  every  object ;  and  its  appearance,  and  the  tone  in 
which  Carter  spoke,  served  to  arouse  the  settlers  from  their  lethargy, 
and  they,  in  connection  with  the  troops,  who  had  reloaded,  poured 
in  a  close  and  deadly  fire  upon  the  advancing  rebels. 

The  Indians  now  turned  immediately,  scattering  in  all  directions, 
and  uttering  wild  and  unearthly  yells.  A  loud  bellowing  among 
the  cattle  outside  soon  announced  their  whereabouts  and  occu- 
pation. 

As  no  part  of  the  soldiers'  or  settlers'  persons  was  exposed,  the 
rebels  did  not  discharge  a  gun ;  but,  recovering  from  the  slight 
disorder  into  which  the  volleys  of  the  Unionists  had  thrown  them, 
reformed,  and  steadily  advanced  towards  the  entrance  to  the  fort, 
headed  by  O'Kane.  Ere  they  arrived  there,  however,  another  dis- 
charge —  more  deadly  in  its  effects  than  the  previous  ones  —  caused 


60  CORA   O'KANE,    OR 

them  to  waver  a  moment ;  but,  shouting,  "  Huzza  for  the  bonnie 
blue  flag !  "  O'Kane  again  advanced,  followed  by  his  men. 

The  burning  barns  increased  in  every  direction.  The  cattle  that 
had  escaped  the  knives  of  the  savages  were  running  in  the  fields, 
and  through  the  streets,  bellowing  furiously.  The  women  and  chil- 
dren within  the  fort  were  shrieking  and  fainting ;  and  a  more  dis- 
tressing scene  than  the  assaulted  Settlement  presented  at  this  time 
could  not  well  be  conceived. 

The  Unionists  kept  up  a  brisk  discharge ;  but,  as  the  rebels  were 
close  in  under  the  walls,  they  were  without  any  great  effect.  The 
doors  of  the  fort  were  composed  of  heavy  oaken  plank,  and  against 
them  O'Kane  directed  all  his  strength  and  ingenuity.  A  half  dozen 
axes  were  incessantly  playing  upon  them  from  without ;  while  those 
within  saw  the  utter  futility  of  all  attempts  to  block  up  the  passage 
in  case  the  door  should  give  way,  as  it  certainly  must,  under  the 
vigorous  efforts  now  going  on  to  effect  it. 

Captain  AVilson  immediately  selected  a  number  of  the  most  sturdy 
and  determined  of  his  command,  and  took  his  station  directly  in 
front  of  the  door.  He  urged  and  exhorted  his  companions  to  a 
firm  and  unyielding  resistance,  and  they  promised  implicitly  to  obey 
his  orders. 

In  about  half  an  hour  the  door  fell  in  with  a  heavy  crash,  and 
the  fierce  combatants  stood  face  to  face  — »  foe  to  foe.  Uttering  a 
cry  of  encouragement  to  his  comrades,  Marvin  dashed  upon  the 
advancing  column  of  rebels,  dealing  tremendous  blows  in  every 
direction  around  him,  with  a  huge  sabre,  which  he  had  selected  for 
that  purpose.  He  was  bravely  seconded  by  his  comrades  ;  and,  so 
impetuous  was  the  onset,  and  so  determinedly  was  it  kept  up,  that, 
despite  their  greater  numbers,  the  rebels  were  compelled  to  retreat. 
This  change  in  circumstances  was  observed  by  Archie,  and,  shout- 
ing for  the  rest  of  the  soldiers  and  the  settlers  to  advance,  he  too 
rushed  into  the  furious  conflict.  This  accession  increased  their 
In  pes,  and  consequently  their  exertions.  They  fought  like  heroes  ; 
and,  notwithstanding  O'Kane  used  every  encouragement  and  threat 
that  he  could  devise,  his  men  continued  to  give  ground. 

A  fierce  and  bloody  conflict  raged  without  the  fort  for  nearly  an 
hour,  the  rebels  gradually  retreating,  and  the  Unionists  following 
them  up  closely.  O'Kane  at  length  perceived  the  folly  of  con- 
tinuing the  battle ;  and  he  gave  orders  to  his  men  to  retreat  to  the 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  61 

forest,  intending  to  rally  again,  and  once  more  renew  the  encounter. 
They  were  pursued  but  a  short  distance  by  the  Unionists,  who,  know- 
ing that  they  would  be  conspicuous  marks  in  the  light  of  the  blazing 
buildings  around  them,  retreated  to  the  fort,  hastily  collecting,  as 
they  did  so,  their  wounded  comrades.  They  immediately  set  to 
work  to  repair  the  fallen  door  of  the  fort,  which  they  accomplished 
as  well  as  they  could  in  the  hurry  and  confusion  of  the  moment.  A 
new  supply  of  ammunition  was  dealt  out  to  the  men,  and  they 
awaited  another  assault  from  the  discomfited  rebels. 

O'Kane  was  more  than  an  hour  in  preparing  and  urging  his  men« 
to  another  assault.     The  Indians  had  slaughtered  all  the  cattle  within 
their  reach,  and,  thinking  that  such  an  honor  was  sufficient,  refused 
to  participate  further  in  the  conflict  until  the  women  and  children 
were  to  be  scalped. 

O'Kane,  however,  was  not  to  be  intimidated  or  deterred  from 
another  attempt,  and  at  length  his  men  prepared,  sullenly,  to  follow 
him  again  beneath  the  walls  of  the  fort.  Slowly  and  solemnly  they 
marched  in  the  direction  of  the  fort,  and  approached  even  nearer 
than  at  first,  before  the  Unionists  evinced  any  symptoms  that  they 
knew  of  their  whereabouts.  Then,  however,  they  were  overtaken 
by  a  tremendous  discharge,  at  which  some  dozen  fell,  while  the 
remainder  came  to  a  dead  halt.  Another  discharge  quickly  fol- 
lowed the  first;  when,  breaking  through  all  discipline,  and  utterly 
unmindful  of  the  cries  of  the  enraged  O'Kane,  the  rebels  faced 
about  and  ran  for  the  woods.  A  loud  huzza  from  the  fort  accom- 
panied this  exhibition  of  cowardice.  O'Kane  was  compelled  to 
follow  his  men  ;  and  as  they  came  to  a  halt  just  in  the  edge  of  the 
forest,  he  again  urged  them  to  an  attack  on  the  fort.  But  they 
steadily  refused  to  advance  an  inch.  They  had  experienced  bad 
usage  in  their  former  attempts,  and  were  not  at  all  inclined  to  test 
again  the  mettle  of  their  loyal  opponents.  Finding  all  attempts  to 
induce  them  to  make  another  trial  of  no  avail,  O'Kane  sullenly 
gavo  them  orders  to  march,  which  they  obeyed  with  alacrity.  They 
did  not  take  up  their  former  line  of  march,  however,  but  continued 
up  the  river,  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded  to  be  cared  for  by  the 
Unionists. 

The  Unionists,  who  were  greatly  inferior  in  numbers,  did  not  feel 
inclined  to  risk  what  they  had  gained  by  following,  and  they  were 
permitted  to  depart  in  peace. 


G2  CORA  o'kane,  or 

While  Marvin  was  at  the  Settlement,  where  he  had  fought  so 
bravely  in  the  defence  of  the  lives  and  property  of  others,  he  little 
dreamed  of  the  scenes  that  were  enacting  near  his  own  humble 
home. 

A  detachment  of  O'Kane's  Guard  started  early  in  the  evening,  on 
the  day  subsequent  to  the  scenes  which  we  have  been  relating,  bent 
upon  the  capture  of  Captain  Wilson  and  Archie  Carter.  The  expe- 
dition was  composed  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  men,  including 
O'Kane  and  his  Aid,  provided  with  boats  of  almost  every  descrip- 
tion, and  fully  armed  and  accoutred  for  the  formidable  undertaking 
of  arresting  two  men.  With  the  utmost  possible  caution  and  silence 
they  proceeded  down  the  river  to  the  spot  designated,  where  the 
men  were  landed  and  the  boats  secreted.  They  waited  at  this 
place  in  silence,  sitting  within  the  shade  of  the  forest  to  escape 
observation,  until  nearly  eleven  o'clock,  when  they  started  in  the 
direction  of  the  cabin. 

When  they  had  arrived  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  destined 
spot,  the  main  body  was  brought  to  a  dead  halt,  and  O'Kane  and 
one  of  his  sergeants  moved  cautiously  forward  to  reconnoitre.  They 
found  the  cabin  all  dark,  while  perfect  silence  reigned  without  and 
within.  One  thing,  however,  perplexed  O'Kane.  He  doubted  not 
that  Wilson  and  Archie  were  slumbering  within.  He  had  supposed 
that  Captain  Wilson's  company  at  Clay's  Settlement  was  under  com- 
mand of  Lieutenant  Rollins.  Still  he  thought  it  possible  they 
might  be  in  the  neighborhood  of  their  captain.  Feeling  secure, 
however,  in  the  consciousness  of  superior  numbers,  he  returned  to 
his  comrades,  determined  to  push  on  and  secure  his  prey,  at  all 
hazards. 

The  Guards  cautiously  approached,  headed  by  O'Kane,  who  was 
armed  with  an  axe.  They  arrived  in  front  of  the  cabin  undisturbed, 
and  then  completely  encircled  it,  in  order  to  prevent  the  possibility 
of  an  escape.  A  few  heavy  blows  from  O'Kane's  axe  demolished 
the  door,»and  he  rushed  in  with  his  weapon  uplifted,  shouting,  ai 
the  top  of  his  voice,  — 

"  I  command  you  to  surrender,  in  the  name  of  the  Confederate 
States  of  America." 

He  paused  for  an  answer ;  but  none  came. 

"It  is  useless  to  think  of  escape,"  he  continued,  "for  you  are 
entirely  surrounded,  and  your  only  hope  for  mercy  lies  in  your  im- 
mediate surrender !  " 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  63 

Still  no  reply  came  to  his  pompous  declaration,  and  he  ordered 
one  of  his  men  to  strike  a  light.  This  was  quickly  accomplished, 
and  the  mortified  O'Kane  found  that  the  cabin  was  without  an 
inmate.  He  stood  for  some  time,  not  attempting  to  conceal  his 
chagrin  ;  and  then  he  shouted  to  his  men,  — 

"  Let  us  burn  the  wigwam ;  they  may  be  concealed  in  it !  " 

A  large  quantity  of  dry  brush  was  soon  placed  upon  the  floor  of 
the  cabin,  and  the  torch  applied.  As  the  logs  of  which  it  was 
composed  were  dry,  it  was  soon  completely  wrapped  in  flame.  The 
rebels  stood  around  it  in  a  circle,  eagerly  expecting  the  appearance 
of  Wilson  and  Archie.  But,  alas  for  their  loyalty  to  the  Confed- 
erate government,  they  came  not. 

The  rebels  waited  until  the  last  flickering  flame  of  the  burning 
building  had  expired,  and  the  forest  was  again  overshadowed  with 
darkness,  ere  they  gave  up  all  hope  of  securing  the  objects  of  their 
search ;  but  then  they  were  compelled  to  give  up,  and  their  crest- 
fallen captain  gave  orders  for  a  homeward  march.  They  soon  came 
up  to  their  boats ;  and,  ere  the  day  had  dawned,  the  Guards  had 
returned,  perfectly  bloodless,  and  were  most  of  them  in  a  sound 
slumber. 

O'Kane  chafed  furiously  under  his  disappointment,  and  sought 
his  couch,  breathing  forth  vows  of  vengeance,  "loud  and  deep." 
He  had  hoped  to  secure  Wilson,  whom  above  all  other  men  he 
dreaded.  He  knew  of  his  attachment  to  his  niece,  of  his  prompt 
and  daring  character,  and  he  feared  lest  he  might  prove  a  trouble 
some  obstacle  in  the  way  of  the  final  and  successful  accomplishment 
of  some  of  his  plans. 

CHAPTER    X. 

Captain  Wilson  remained  here  with  his  men  until  the  middle 
of  September.  Price  and  his  army  were  at  Springfield,  and  it  was 
supposed  he  had  gone  into  winter  quarters.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
Settlement  prevailed  upon  Captain  Wilson  to  remain  with  them  a 
little  while  longer.  While  here,  Marvin  had  learned  from  a  woman 
that  Cora  was  not  dead,  but  had  been  removed  to  some  distant 
locality  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state,  by  the  direction  of  O'Kane. 
Marvin's  heart  leaped  with  joy  at  the  information  of  the  woman  in 
regard  to  Cora. 


64  CORA   O'KANE,   OR 

Marvin  went  immediately  to  Archie,  and  informed  him  what  the 
woman  had  told  him  about  Cora.     Archie  said  to  Marvin,  — 

"  As  it  is  only  a  few  miles  up  the  river  to  O'Kane's  house,  I'm  a 
good  mind  to  take  the  skiff  and  go  and  see  what  the  old  porcupine 
is  about  up  there." 

"  That  excursion  would  be  attended  with  some  danger, "  said  Mar- 
vin.  "  You  know  very  well  that  as  long  as  Price  remains  in  Spring- 
field O'Kane  and  his  guard  will  be  ransacking  this  section  of  the 
country." 

"That  mought  all  be,"  said  Archie.  K I've  got  tired  of  lounging 
around  here." 

ff  We  are  doing  our  duty,"  said  Marvin,  "  in  protecting  the  people 
from  the  assaults  of  the  rebel  banditti." 

k   *  Wal,"  said  Archie,  "  I  shall  go.     I  shan't  be  reconciled  with  my- 
eelf  until  I  hear  what  the  old  critter  has  to  say  about  Cora,  anyhow." 

In  a  few  moments  Archie  had  floated  his  skiff  into  the  river,  ana 
then  he  rowed  towards  O'Kane's.  When  within  a  few  rods  of  the 
house,  Archie  secreted  the  skiff,  and  looked  cautiously  around  to 
ascertain  if  any  one  was  stirring.  Finding  that  all  was  quiet,  he 
marched  boldly  up  to  the  house,  and,  without  knocking,  entered  the 
kitchen.  Rebecca  was  standing  at  a  table,  with  her  back  towards 
him,  when  he  entered,  and  ere  she  turned  round  he  had  coolly  seated 
himself  in  a  chair.  When  Rebecca  saw  that  Archie  Carter  was  in 
her  presence,  she  was  perfectly  thunderstruck.  Her  eyes  enlarged 
to  twice  their  natural  dimensions,  and  the  end  of  her  sharp  nose 
turned  as  white  as  chalk. 

"  Don't  blush  so,  ma'am,"  said  Archie,  with  a  smile  that  stretched 
his  huge  mouth  from  ear  to  ear,  at  the  same  time  placing  his  hand 
upon  his  heart.  w  I  raally  couldn't  bear  to  leave  the  country  for- 
ever without  seein'on  ye  once  more.  The  fact  is,  ma'am,"  said  he, 
bowing  very  low,  "  I  do  love  you  awfully,  though  I  say  it  myself; 
and  you  might  travel  many  a  mile  and  not  find  as  likely  a  lookin' 
man  as  what  I  am  myself." 

Whilst  Archie  was  delivering  himself  of  this  gallant  speech, 
Miss  Rebecca  had  somewhat  recovered  her  mental  equilibrium.  By 
the  time  that  Archie  brought  his  passionate  declamation  to  a  close, 
her  tongue  had  become  loosened  on  its  pivot. 

M  What  are  you  doing  here,  you  great  rascal  that  you  are?  What 
are  you  doing  here  again  ?  "  she  exclaimed  furiously. 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  65 

"  Don't  blame  me  at  all,  ma'am,"  said  Archie,  smiling;  "don't 
blame  me>  ma'am.  It's  your  beautiful  face  that's  did  the  hull.  I 
should  had  to  come  back  if  the  devil  forbid  me." 

Rebecca  was  fairly  stumped.  The  cool  impudence  of  Archie  was 
more  than  she  could  quickly  decide  how  to  handle ;  but  she  finally 
exclaimed, — 

M  What  do  you  mean,  you  lying  vagabond?  " 

"  I  don't  wonder  you  think  I  lie,  ma'am,  when  I  call  you  hand- 
some,"  replied  Archie  ;  "  but  all  folks  don't  see  alike  at  all.  You've 
smit  my  gizzard,  ma'am,  and  no  mistake  !  " 

"Ain't  you  ashamed,  you  great  villain,  to  insult  a  virtuous  female 
in  this  manner,  when  you  see  she  is  all  alone  ?  "  cried  Rebecca. 

"Ma'am,  now  don't  say  so  !  "  said  Archie,  beseechingly;  "now 
don't  accuse  me  of  sich  ongenteel  conduct.  Only  let  me  kiss  you 
once,  ma'am,  and  you'll  find  that  I  am  sincere  in  my  pretensions." 

"O  Lord  !  "  screamed  Rebecca,  elevating  both  hands,  and  rolling 
her  eyes  upwards.  "  You  talk  of  kissing  me,  do  you,  you  old 
scoundrel !  You  just  try  that  once,"  she  continued,  lowering  her 
hands,  and  extending  her  fingers  like  hawks'  claws,  "you  try  that 
once,  and  I'll  scratch  your  eyes  out,  you  brute ! " 

"O,  dear  !"  sighed  Archie,  "  you've  ondid  me,  ma'am  —  clear 
ondid  me.  You've  conspired  me  with  a  vi'lent  passion,  and  now 
you  refuse  me  only  one  kiss.     O,  ma'am,  you're  too  cruel !  " 

"  Get  out  of  my  house,  you  impudent  villain !  "  screeched  the 
virago ;  "  get  out  of  my  house !  O,  if  the  servants  were  only 
here,  or  O'Kane  !  they'd  give  you  your  deserts,  you  great  bear  !  " 

"  Ma'am,"  said  Archie,  with  a  rueful  visage,  "I've  come  a  great 
distance  to  see  you ;  and  if  you  won't  accept  the  offer  of  my  heart, 
I  hope  you'll  be  generous  enough  to  give  me  a  bit  of  luncheon." 

"  You  don't  eat  a  bit  in  this  house,  you  low-bred  marauder ! " 
exclaimed  Rebecca.  "  You've  eat  here  once  too  often,  now.  So, 
begone  with  yourself  this  moment !  " 

"  Look  here,  you  old  dromedary,"  said  Archie,  suddenly  altering 
his  tone ;  "  get  me  something  to  eat,  or,  blow  me,  I'll  cut  out  your 
tongue  for  you  !  " 

Rebecca  seeming  not  inclined  to  obey,  Archie  thundered  again  in 
her  ear,  — 

"  Get  me  something  to  eat,  you  old  shark ;   for  I  must  be  off. 
Don't  make  me  speak  agin  I  " 
9 


$$  CORA  O'KANE,   OR 

"I  won't,  so  there,  if  I  die  for  it,"  said  Rebecca,  snappishly. 

"Then,  my  dear,  I'll  get  it  myself,"  said  Archie,  rising  from  his 
chair,  and  approaching  a  cupboard  which  was  standing  in  one  cor- 
ner of  the  room.  "  You  ain't  generous  at  all,  ma'am,"  said  he, 
opening  the  door,  and  drawing  forth  two  large  pies,  and  coolly  de- 
positing them  under  his  arm.     Turning  to  Rebecca,  he  said,  — 

K  Old  damsel,  you  must  be  pretty  well  acquainted  with  me  by  this 
time.  You  know,  I  guess,  that  I  generally  do  about  as  I  promise. 
Now,  harkee  :  I  don't  war  with  she  folks,  no  way ;  but  I  want  to 
ax  you  one  question ;  and  if  you  don't  make  a  correct  answer,  I'll 
choke  your  old  weasand  for  you.     Where's  O'Kane's  niece?" 

Rebecca,  turning  pale,  replied,  — 

"  She  is  not  dead,  but  has  been  removed  to  the  southern  part  of 
the  state ;  and  that's  all  I  know  about  it." 

Archie,  seeing  that  he  could  worm  no  more  out  of  the  old  virago, 
left  the  house,  and  started  with  all  speed  towards  the  skiff.  When 
he  arrived  there,  it  was  about  noon  ;  and  seating  himself/ beneath  a 
tree,  he  partook  hastily  of  one  of  Rebecca's  pies,  and  then  proceed- 
ed down  the  river  towards  the  Settlement.  He  labored  faithfully  at 
the  oars,  and  shortly  after  four  o'clock  entered  the  village.  Archie 
went  directly  to  Captain  Wilson,  and  told  him  that  he  had  not  been 
able  to  get  any  additional  news  in  regard  to  the  whereabouts  of 
Cora.  Captain  Wilson  detailed  part  of  his  men  to  assist  the  set- 
tlers in  putting  the  fort  in  perfect  repair,  so  that  they  would  feel 
secure  a*gainst  another  attack  from  O'Kane,  and  then  concluded  to 
return  to  the  army.  The  next  morning,  they  bade  adieu  to  their 
friends,  and  in  two  days  reached  the  headquarters  of  General  Sigel. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Kind  reader,  we  will  now  return  to  Cora,  whom  we  left  some 
time  since  in  her  desolate  situation.  The  evening  after  the  conver- 
sation she  had  heard,  Cora  retired  to  her  bed  with  the  determination 
to  stay  in  the  house  no  longer.  "  But  where  shall  I  go  ?  "  she  asked 
herself.  "  I  cannot  return  to  my  uncle's,  and  I  have  no  one  to  pro- 
tect me  ;  "  and  the  tears  flowed  down  her  cheeks  as  they  had  a  thou- 
sand tunes  before.  While  her  heart  was  filled  with  sadness,  there 
was  one jfra^.<rf. light  flitted  across  her  mind  :  she  remembered  well 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUAED.  67 

what  the  man  had  said,  that  the  Union  army  would  soon  be  there. 
"  Now,"  she  said  to  herself,  "  if  I  can  only  contrive  to  make  my 
escape  from  the  custody  of  the  old  woman,  and  get  within  the 
lines  of  the  Union  army,  if  I  do  not  meet  with  Marvin,  I  shall  at 
least  be  with  friends."  She  then  determined  to  try  all  possible 
ways  to  make  her  escape.  "  If  I  die  in  the  attempt,  it  can  be  no 
worse  for  me ;  for  the  treatment  I  receive  here  is  almost  beyond 
endurance."  The  next  morning  she  arose  more  refreshed  than  she 
had  been  for  many  mornings  previous.  "  Now,"  she  said  to  her- 
self, "I  must  watch  every  opportunity  to  make  my  escape." 

Cora,  up  to  this  time,  had  been  closely  watched  by  the  old  wo- 
man ;  yet  once  or  twice  she  had  been  allowed  the  privilege  of  going 
into  the  old  woman's  room,  which  adjoined  hers.  It  was  nearly 
eight  o'clock  when  she  came  in  with  Cora's  coarse  breakfast.  Cora 
observed  that  she  looked  deadly  pale,  and  could  but  just  walk.* 

"  Well,  miss,"  said  she,  "  I  have  had  a  mighty  bad  night  of  it, 
and  I  am  sick  now ;  "  and  as  she  turned  to  go  out  of  the  room,  she 
fell  to  the  floor  in  a  fit.  Cora,  seeing  her  in  this  state,  was  at  first  ter- 
ribly frightened  ;  but  in  a  moment  she  regained  her  self-possession, 
and  ran  for  some  water,  with  which*she  bathed  the  old  woman's  head, 
which  so  revived  her,  that,  with  Cora's  help,  she  managed  to  get  to 
her  bed.  Cora,  in  all  the  tenderness  of  her  heart,  prepared  for  her 
some  herb  tea,  which  quickly  relieved  her  pain,  and  soothed  her  to 
sleep ;  and  as  she  had  had  no  rest  during  the  night,  her  sleep  now 
became  sound.  Cora  now  found  herself,  at  least  for  a  moment,  at 
liberty ;  and  she  was  determined,  although  that  was  not  the  time 
to  make  her  escape,  to  prepare  for  it.  She  turned  around  and 
looked  atythe  old  woman,  who  was  still  sleeping  soundly.  She  then 
went  to  the  door,  and  looked  out,  as  she  had  not  had  that  privilege 
before  since  she  had  been  there.  As  she  came  back  into  the  room, 
she  discovered  an  old  reticule  lying  upon  the  floor.  She  had  the 
curiosity  to  examine  it,  and,  to  her  great  delight,  found  the  key  to 
her  trunk.  She  again  looked  at  the  old  woman,  who  had  turned 
over  in  bed,  and  was  still  sleeping.  She  found  her  trunk  under  the 
bed.  She  now  moved  it  carefully  out,  opened  it,  and  selected  from 
her  clothing  a  calico  dress,  a  thin  shawl,  and  a  Shaker  bonnet.  She 
carried  them  out  and  hid  themmnder  some  brush,  a  few  steps  from 
the  house. 

After  she  had  accomplished  all  this,  which  she  did  4n  less  time 


68  CORA  O'KANE,   OR 

than  it  takes  us  to  record  it,  she  returned  to  the  bed,  and  was  in  the 
act  of  bathing  the  old  woman's  temple,  when  she  awoke  somewhat 
refreshed.  Cora  asked  her  if  she  should  go  back  to  her  room.  The 
old  woman  made  an  effort  to  rise,  but  she  was  so  weak  she  could 
not.  She  told  Cora  she  might  remain  with  her  until  the  old  man 
came  back  from  town. 

In  a  little  while  the  old  man  came  in,  and  was  somewhat  sur- 
prised to  find  the  old  woman  worse,  and  Cora  nursing  her.  The 
old  woman  had  just  strength  enough  to  tell  him  what  a  poor  time 
she  had  had,  and  that  she  would  have  died  had  it  not  been  for  Cora. 

"  Wal,"  said  the  old  man,  "I  thought  the  gal  was  mighty  nice, 
when  she  first  come  here ;  and  that  it  was  a  cussed  mean  trick  to 
shut  her  up  here  against  her  will,  and  keep  her  so  long.  But  you 
see,  gal,"  turning  to  Cora,  that  the  old  woman  was  going  to  make 
a  great  heap  out  of  it,  and  I  lets  her  have  her  own  way.  But,  old 
woman,"  said  he,  "Bill  White  told  me  to-day  that  Martin  was  at 
Cairo,  and  that  Lincoln's  army  was  around  there,  and  if  he  should 
get  gobbled  up,  you  would  never  get  any  pay  for  the  gal's  staying 
here.  I  tell  you,  old  critter,  Martin  has  euchred  you;  and  I 
shouldn't  care  i£  she  toted  off  tfeis  very  day." 

The  old  woman  sank  back  on  her  pillow,  and  closed  her  eyes. 
The  conversation  of  the  old  man  somewhat  surprised  Cora,  and  it 
led  her  to  believe  that  he  would  have  no  objection  to  her  leaving. 

All  the  afternoon  the  old*woman  was  very  sick,  and  Cora  had  to 
remain  with  her.  She  retired  to  her  room  that  night,  and  the  old 
man  took  her  place  as  nurse.  The  next  morning  she  found  the  old 
woman  not  much  better. 

At  breakfast,  the  old  man  told  Cora  that  Bill  White  was  a  kind 
of  partner  of  Martin's;  and,  he  said,  "If  he  knew  the  old  woman 
was  sick,  he  would  come  and  carry  you  off.  Now,  if  you  want  to 
return  to  your  friends,  you  may  go  to-morrow  morning ;  and  I  will 
show  you  a  path  by  which  you  can  go,  and  not  go  near  the  town." 

Cora  expressed  to  him  her  heartfelt  thanks,  and  promised  to 
reward  him  if  it  ever  lay  in  her  powe/. 

Cora  was  up  the  next  morning  before  the  sun.  The  old  man  had 
gone  to  the  spring  for  some  water;  and,  while  he  was  gone,  she 
slipped  out  and  brought  in  her  clothing  that  she  had  hid  in  the 
brush.  She  was  not  long  in  preparing  breakfast,  and  when  the  old 
man  came  in  they  sat  down. 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  69 

After  breakfast  the  old  man  told  her  to  prepare  for  her  journey. 
She  went  into  her  room  and  changed  her  clothing ;  then  came  out 
and  tied  up  a  few  things  that  she  found  in  her  trunk.  In  a  short 
time  she  was  ready  to  start. 

The  old  man  led  her  to  the  path  she  was  to  take.  M  Now,"  said 
he,  "gal,  you  keep  this  path ;  do  not  turn  to  the  right  or  left,  but 
keep  right  straight  ahead.     And  may  God  bless  you." 

Cora  thanked  him,  and  added,  if  she  was  so  fortunate  as  to  reach 
her  friends,  she  would  remember  this  act  of  kindness. 

Cora  made  good  progress,  issuing  from  the  ten-mile  wood  about 
eleven  o'clock.  She  had  followed  the  sandy  cart  path  which  led 
through  it.  The  pine  barrens,  being  almost  destitute  of  under- 
wood and  flowers,  had  great  monotony.  Mile  after  mile  it  was  the 
same  dull  level. 

When  she  reached  the  open  country,  the  sun  poured  down  its  fur- 
nace heat,  and  her  feet  were  sore  with  the  hot  sand.  But  she  was 
willing  to  suffer  hardships  to  get  out  of  the  power  of  her  uncle. 
While  stopping  here  a  moment  to  rest,  a  slave  rode  up,  with  a  mule 
team,  drawing  a  small  load  of  wood. 

"  Why,  he  !  "  said  he  ;  H  who's  runnin*  off  now?  " 

Cora  looked  up,  in  surprise,  at  the  bright-looking,  good-natured 
negro  of  twenty. 

"I  begs  your  pardon,  miss ;  you  kep'  your  head  down,  an'  I  said 
to  myse'f,  Tears  like  dish  sher  is  some  poor  slave  woman,  an'  I'll  jist 
give  her  a  lift  an'  let  her  ride  a  piece  ;  but,  as  you  is  a  poor  white, 
you  is  jist  as  welcome  to  a  seat  in  my  wagon." 

Cora  made  no  reply  to  what  the  slave  had  said,  and  gladly  took 
a  seat  beside  him. 

"  Where  are  you  going?  "  he  asked. 

This  was  a  serious  and  a  fearful  question.  Her  only  thought 
was  to  get  to  her  Union  friends.  The  direct  way  to  go  she  did  not 
know,  nor  the  names  of  the  towns  she  should  pass  through.  Waiv- 
ing the  question,  she  asked  the  slave  if  he  knew  the  name  of  the 
next  town. 

"It  is  Cass,  miss;  and  it  is  a  right  smart  of  a  journey ;  it  will 
take  two  or  three  days  for  you  to  walk  there.  But  I  will  whip  up 
my  mules,  and  tote  you  a  piece  of  the  way.  Massa  will  not  know, 
'case,  you  see,  massa  has  gone  to  de  war." 

"Do  you  know  anything  about  the  war?  "  asked  Cora. 


70  CORA  O'KANE,   OR 

"  Well,  some,"  replied  the  slave  ;  R  the  Union  army  was  coming, 
massa  said,  the  other  day." 

"  Do  you  know  any  one  in  Cass  ?  "  asked  Cora. 

"  Well,  I  have  been  there  for  massa ;  but  I  don't  know  any  white 
folks  there.  If  you  will  wait  until  I  unload  this  wood,  I  will  tote  you 
a  good  ways  towards  there  ;  and  here  is  some  lunch  in  my  basket." 

The  slave  proceeded  to  give  Cora  some  c^ld  turkey  and  plum 
pudding,  which  he  obtained  from  the  cook,  a  particular  friend  of 
his,  being  the  remnants  of  yesterday's  dinner  of  the  family.  Cora 
sat  down  and  ate  some,  while  the  slave  unloaded  his  wood.  Very 
soon  he  came  back,  and  said,  — 

"  I  will  tote  you  a  piece  farther  now ;  massa  is  gone,  and  I'm 
boss  now ;  and  I  think  that  I  can  take  you  to  a  cabin,  where  lives 
an  oilman,  about  four  miles  from  here,  and  the  old  man  will  keep 
you  over  night.     He  is  a  Moravian  preacher." 

Cora  felt  that  if  she  could  only  get  there,  he  might  be  her  friend. 
It  was  past  sundown  when  Cora  arrived  at  the  cabin  of  the  preacher. 
The  old  man,  with  his  long,  flowing,  white  beard,  was  sitting  at  his 
cabin  door  when  Cora  came  up. 

"  Good  evening,"  said  the  old  man  as  Cora  approached  him,  with 
an  expression  of  kindness  on  his  countenance  that  bespoke  that  she 
had  met  with  a  friend  indeed. 

"  Good  evening,"  replied  Cora.  K  Could  I  have  the  privilege  of 
remaining  here  to-night,  as  I  have  travelled  a  long  way  to-day  ? " 
asked  Cora. 

"You  can,"  said  the  old  man.  "My  home  is  a  humble  one,  and 
my  fare  coarse,  but  such  as  it  is,  I  am  willing  to  share  it  with  you. 
Walk  in,  miss." 

Cora  entered  the  cabin.  The  old  man  had  but  a  few  articles  of 
furniture ;  but  they  were  very  neatly  arranged  about  the  room. 
On  a  shelf,  fastened  up  with  cords,  lay  the  old  Bible.  After  they 
had  finished  their  evening  meal,  the  old  man  turned  to  Cora,  and 
asked  where  she  was  going. 

"  Friend,"  said  Cora,  "  my  journey  is  long,  and  my  story  is  a  sad 
one  ;  and,  while  the  dark  clouds  of  war  are  hovering  over  us,  —  and 
such  a  war  as  this,  where  brother  is  arrayed  against  brother,  and 
neighbor  against  neighbor,  —  a  poor  fugitive,  escaping  from  the 
cruelties  of  those  that  would  deprive  her  of  that  which  was  dear  in 
this  life,  and  even  life  itself,  and  all  for  the  possession  of  that  patri- 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  71 

mony  that  her  dead  father  desired  that  she  should  receive  and  enjoy, 
must  first  know  that  she  is  with  a  true  friend." 

The  old  man  said  that  he  was  the  friend  of  the  bowed  down  and 
the  distressed,  and  she  could  place  the  most  implicit  confidence 
in  him,  and  if  he  could  ameliorate  her  condition,  he  would  will- 
ingly do  it. 

Cora  now  commenced  the  sorrowful  story.  It  was  late  at  night 
when  she  lay  down  in  a  corner  of  the  room  upon  a  bed  of  wild 
beasts'  skins,  which  the  old  man  had  prepared  for  her.  Being  very 
tired,  and  feeling  perfectly  secure,  she  was  soon  asleep. 

The  old  man  had  been  up  some  time  before  Cora  awoke  in  the 
morning,  and  she  found  him  preparing  a  breakfast  for  them.  After 
they  had  eaten,  Cora  made  preparations  to  leave,  although  her  feet 
were  very  sore.  The  old  man  desired  her  to  stay  a  few  days,  but 
she  was  afraid  to  ;  she  thought  she  was  too  near  Martin's  friends  to 
make  a  long  stop. 

"  Well,"  said  the  old  man,  "it  is  a  long  way  to  the  Union  lines, 
and  there  are  a  great  many  bands  of  guerrillas  around  here.  It  is 
quite  a  number  of  miles  to  Cass,  and  I  do  not  think  you  could  get 
there  to-night.  I  will  go  with  you  to  a  house  some  seven  miles 
from  here,  on  your  way,  where  the  people  are  very  kind,  and  will 
take  care  of  you  over  night." 

The  old  man  now  got  ready  to  accompany  Cora ;  and,  as  they 
walked  steadily  along,  she  thought  of  the  troubles  that  were  past, 
and  what  she  must  still  endure,  but  she  was  willing  to  put  her  trust 
in  God,  and  hope  for  the  best. 

It  was  nearly  eleven  o'clock  when  the  old  man  and  Cora  arrived 
at  the  house  of  the  old  man's  friends. 

*  Well,"  said  the  old  man  to  the  woman  of  the  house,  "  is  Mr. 
Fobbs  at  home?" 

She  replied  that  he  was,  and  would  be  in  soon.  The  old  man 
then  told  the  woman  that  this  young  lady  felt  desirous  to  reach  that 
part  of  the  state  where  the  Union  army  was. 

While  they  were  conversing,  Mr.  Fobbs  came  in,  and  joined  in 
the  conversation.  He  said  that  this  section  of  the  country  was 
overrun  with  bands  of  rebel  soldiers  ;  that  they  were  riding  around, 
and  it  would  be  almost  impossible  for  Cora  to  go  in  safety.  "  So  I 
think  she  had  better  remain  here,  until  we  provide  a  way  for  her. 
I  don't  feel  myself  safe  here.    Colonel  Thompson,  '  the  swamp  fox,' 


72  CORA  O'KANE,   OE 

is  picking  up  all  the  men  he  can  find,  and  I  am  determined  not  to 
enter  the  rebel  ranks.  And,  as  I  can't  remain  here  long  in  safety, 
I've  made  up  my  mind  to  start  this  very  night  for  Houston,  and  I 
will  carry  the  girl  within  a  couple  of  miles  of  Springfield." 

At  dark,  Fobbs  drove  to  the  #door,  and  in  a  few  moments  they 
were  on  the  road.  The  cart  was  not  so  easy  a  vehicle  as  Cora  had 
rode  in  before,  but  it  was  preferable  to  going  on  foot. 

The  next  morning  they  were  within  a  few  miles  of  Springfield. 
Here  Mr.  Fobbs  told  Cora  that  he  must  leave  her,  as  he  did  not 
deem  it  safe  for  him  to  enter  the  town. 

Cora  felt  happy  that  she  had  arrived  so  far  towards  her  journey's 
end ;  but  yet  she  felt  that  if  she  could  find  a  friend  here,  to  direct 
her  the  way  she  should  go,  it  would  be  fortunate.  As  she  was 
walking  up  the  street,  she  was  accosted  by  a  man  wearing  the  Con- 
federate uniform,  who  asked  her  where  she  was  going. 

w  To  see  my  friends,"  replied  Cora,  walking  on.  At  this  moment 
he  grasped  her  by  the  arm,  and  said,  — 

"  Hold  on  here !  You  are  going  to  be  free  on  the  strength  of 
Fremont's  Proclamation,  are  you?" 

Cora  saw  at  once  that  she  was  in  trouble.  What  to  do  she  did 
not  know.  As  the  man  held  her  by  the  arm,  tears  flowed  down 
her  cheeks  ;  but  she  said  nothing. 

"Now,"  said  the  man,  "you  must  tell  me  where  you  are  going." 

"  To  my  friends,"  replied  Cora. 

"  Where  are  your  friends  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"I  will  not  tell  you,"  said  Cora. 

"  You're  a  runaway,  I  reckon.  We've  a  safe  place  for  all  such 
as  you  are." 

The  man  now  led  Cora  before  the  justice  of  the  town ;  and,  as 
they  were  going  along,  the  crowd  cried  out,  — 

"What's  the  row?" 

"  Why,"  replied  the  man,  "this  girl  has  strayed  into  town,  and 
can  give  no  reasonable  account  of  herself.  She  wants  to  see  her 
friends  ;  and  I  am  taking  her  to  the  justice." 

When  they  arrived  at  the  justice's  office,  the  justice  asked  the 
man,  "Who  have  you  there?" 

"  A  runaway  slave,"  said  the  soldier. 

"  She  is  no  slave,  or  nigger,"  said  Mrs.  Johnson,  the  jailer's 
wife,  who  stood  in  the  door ;  "  she  is  white  as  I  am." 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  73 

"That  may  be,"  said  the  justice ;  "we  have  white  slaves  as  well 
as  black  ones,  and  if  she  is  at  all  suspected  of  being  a  runaway, 
we  must  commit  her  to  jail  —  the  receptacle  of  criminals  and 
slaves." 

This  was  a  trying  time  to  Cora.  What  could  she  do  ?  She  did 
not  dare  to  tell  who  her  friends  were ;  and  if  her  uncle  should  find 
her  out,  then  it  would  be  worse  for  her. 

It  was  past  twelve  o'clock  when  she  entered  the  jail,  and,  as  she 
was  very  sad  and  weary,  she  did  not  fully  realize  her  condition ;  so 
she  sank  down  to  rest. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  jailer  entered,  and  asked  her  a  few  ques- 
tions. Cora  replied  that  she  should  answer  no  questions ;  that  she 
was  no  slave. 

"  Well,  miss,  I  don't  think  that  you  are ;  but  I  must  obey  orders. 
I  am  willing  to  make  you  as  comfortable  as  possible." 

He  now  went  out  j  but  returned  in  a  few  minutes  with  a  husk 
mattress  and  bed  clothing,  and  also  something  to  eat. 

"  Here,  miss,"  said  he,  "  make  yourself  as  comfortable  as  you  can." 

After  the  jailer  went  out,  Cora  sat  upon  the  bed,  and  a  sigh 
escaped  her  lips.  Here  she  was,  deprived  of  liberty,  friends,  and 
all  the  comforts  of  life. 

"O,"  she  exclaimed,  "what  would  my  poor  dead  father  say,  if 
he  only  knew  what  his  darling  child  suffered  !  When  all  his  facul- 
ties were  employed  in  the  accumulation  of  wealth,  that  his  daughter 
might  enjoy  it,  little  did  he  think  she  would  ever  suffer  such  terrible 
trials  at  the  hands  of  her  nearest  relatives." 

She  thought  of  Marvin.  If  he  only  knew  her  condition  and 
situation,  he  would  leave  everything,  and  dare  all,  and  fly  upon  the 
wings  of  love  and  release  her. 

For  two  long  days  no  one  visited  her  in  her  prison  home.  With- 
in a  few  rods  of  the  jail  lived  a  colored  woman,  named  Parker. 
She  had  been  a  slave,  but  had  been  liberated  by  her  master,  who 
left  her  a  little  property.  She  had  always  detested  the  jail,  yet  she 
was  a  frequent  visitor  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  such  of  her 
race  as  were  so  unfortunate  as  to  be  imprisoned  there.  On  the 
third  day  of  Cora's  imprisonment  the  good  woman  came  in,  and  as 
the  jailer  had  spoken  to  her  in  regard  to  Cora,  she  had  a  great 
desire  to  see  her.  The  jailer  said  he  was  willing  to  give  her  the 
opportunity,  and  would  lead  her  to  Cora's  cell.  When  she  entered, 
10 


74  CORA  O'KANE,   OR 

Cora  was  seated  upon  her  bed,  with  both  her  hands  covering  her 
face,  sobbing  bitterly. 

"Miss,"  said  the  old  colored  woman,  kindly,  "will  you  tell  me 
who  you  are  ?  " 

"  I  am  no  slave." 

"  I  know  that,"  said  the  old  woman.  And  she  spoke  in  such 
kind  tones  that  Cora  took  courage. 

"  I  am  no  slave,  and  I  do  so  want  to  leave  this  horrid  place." 

"  I  will  see  what  I  can  do  for  you,  my  dear." 

The  good  woman  now  went  to  see  the  jailer,  to  know  what  could 
be  done  in  gaining  Cora's  liberty.  The  jailer  said  he  was  willing 
Cora  should  go,  but  he  supposed  she  must  be  sojd  for  the  justice's 
fees,  and  the  expense  he  had  been  to  in  keeping  her  in  jail;  and, 
before  he  could  release  her,  he  must  have  an  order  from  the  justice. 
He  went  directly  to  the  justice's  office,  who  made  out  a  bill  for  his 
fee,  and  an  order  for  the  girl's  release.  This  done,  he  carried  it, 
in  connection  with  his  own  bill,  to  the  colored  woman,  who  imme- 
diately paid  the  whole. 

"  Now,"  said  the  jailer,  "  you  can  take  the  girl  home,  as  your 
slave." 

She  now  went  with  the  jailer  into  Cora's  cell.  As  soon  as  Cora 
saw  her,  she  came  towards  her,  and  said,  — 

"  My  friend,  can  you  do  anything  for  me?  " 

"  I  have,"  replied  the  colored  woman.  "  You  can  now  go  with 
me.  Although  against  my  conscience,  I  had  to  buy  you,  in  order 
to  get  you  out." 

"  O,  God  !  "  cried  Cora,  "am  la  slave?  O,  Infinite  Wisdom, 
when  will  my  cup  of  misery  be  full  ?  Is  it  now,  and  have  I  drank 
it  to  the  dregs  ?  " 

Mrs.  Parker  told  the  jailer  that  she  was  no  poor  white,  or  slave, 
but  a  lady,  "  and  I  know  it,"  she  said. 

*  I  think  so  myself,"  replied  the  jailer  ;  "  and  I'm  afraid  we  shall 
all  have  to  suffer  for  this,  sooner  or  later." 

The  colored  woman  now  led  Cora  out  of  the  jail,  soothing  her  as 
best  she  could  as  they  walked  along. 

"O,"  said  Cora,  "I  thank  you  a  thousand  times;  but  I  have  not 
the  money  to  pay  you  for  what  you  have  already  done." 

"That  is  a  matter  we  will*  talk  about  when  your  mind  is  a  little 
more  reconciled  than  it  is  to-day." 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  75 

Cora  had  been  with  the  colored  woman  about  a  week,  when  she 
told  the  woman  who  she  was  and  where  she  intended  to  go.  Mrs. 
Parker  told  her  that  she  had  yet  some  distance  to  go,  and  that  she 
had  better  remain  with  her  a  while  longer,  which  Cora  agreed  to 
do.  That  very  afternoon,  Mr.  Fobbs  came  in,  and,  in  conversation 
with  Mrs.  Parker,  told  her  that  he  was  going  to  join  the  Federal 
army  at  Rolla.  In  reply  to  Mrs.  Parkers  suggestion  that  Cora 
should  accompany  him  to  the  Federal  lines,  he  thought  it  would 
not  be  proper.  At  this  moment  he  heard  the  sound  of  a  trumpet, 
and,  looking  out,  saw  a  company  of  rebel  cavalry  coming  towards 
the  house.  He  turned  to  Mrs.  Parker,  and  said,  "  This  will  be  a 
pretty  hot  place  for  me  soon,  so  I  must  bid  you  good  by." 


CHAPTER    XII. 

In  a  few  days  after  Captain  Wilson  reported  to  General  Sigel, 
he  was  ordered  to  hold  himself  in  readiness  for  duty  at  any  moment. 
As  Archie  was  sitting  by  the  side  of  Marvin  one  evening,  in  their 
tent,  he  broke  the  silence  by  exclaiming,  — 

"  I  reckon  O'Kane  will  have  to  suffer  for  all  of  this  yet.  But, 
blame  me  !  I  regret  one  thing." 

"What  is  that?"  asked  Marvin. 

"  I  regret  that  I  did  not  kiss  the  old  porcupine  the  time  I  took 
her  pies." 

"  Well,  you  may  have  that  privilege  yet,"  said  Marvin. 

"  You  are  joking,  now,  captain,  and  I  know  it.  But  if  I  ever 
get  a  good  sight  at  O'Kane,  he  never  will  know  what  hurt  him,  I 
reckon.  He  is  doomed  ;  and  if  there  is  any  truth  in  preaching,  he 
can't  prosper.  The  way  he  has  treated  his  niece  is  enough  to  con- 
demn any  man." 

"  Yes,"  said  Marvin,  "  there  is  a  just  God  that  rules,  and  to 
him  he  must  look  for  mercy.  I  have  not  mentioned  Cora's  name 
to  you  since  we  were  at  the  Settlement ;  but  I  have  thought  of  her, 
and  have  sworn  before  high  Heaven  to  avenge  her  wrongs." 

At  this  point  of  the  conversation,  Lieutenant  Rollins  entered  the 
tent,  having  posted  the  guard  for  the  night,  as  it  was  nearly  sun- 
down. The  three  officers  had  just  seated  themselves  for  their  even- 
ing meal,  when  an  orderly  brought  an  order  to  Captain  Wilson, 


76  CORA  O'KANE,    OR 

requesting  his  presence  at  headquarters.  Captain  Wilson  did  not 
stop  to  finish  his  meal,  but  hastened  there  immediately.  As  he 
entered,  General  Sigel  said,  — 

"  Captain,  here  is  a  man  that  has  come  in  from  the  rebel  lines. 
He  says  that  there  has  been  an  intelligent  young  lady  sold  into 
slavery ;  that  her  family  resided  somewhere  about  Osceola ;  and 
that  her  name  is  Cora  O'Kane.  Now,  captain,  have  you  ever 
known  such  a  young  lady  ?  " 

Marvin  turned  pale  at  this  information,  and  answered  him  in  the 
affirmative.  He  related  to  the  general  how  her  uncle  abducted  her 
from  home,  and  Carried  her  off  to  parts  unknown,  that  he  might 
retain  the  property  bequeathed  to  her  by  her  father.  The  general 
ordered  Marvin  to  retire  to  his  quarters,  and  make  preparations  to 
march  to  her  rescue  on  the  following  day.  As  soon  as  Marvin  had 
returned  to  his  tent,  he  sought  Archie,  and  related  to  him  what  had 
transpired  at  headquarters. 

"Now,  Archie,  are  you  ready  for  the  undertaking?"  said  Marvin. 

"  I  am  with  you,  Marvin,  by  the  roaring  Jehu  !  "  exclaimed  Ar- 
chie ;  "  and  I'll  be  cussed  if  I  won't  chew  them  all  into  shoe-strings, 
but  what  we  will  have  that  ar  gal  yet." 

"  Well,  Archie,"  said  Marvin,  "  I  am  glad  you  are  with  me  in 
this  undertaking." 

They  now  retired  for  the  night ;  but  Marvin  could  not  sleep  for 
the  thought  of  meeting  Cora  again,  and  perhaps  finally  uniting  his 
destiny  to  hers.  A  new  existence  seemed  to  dawn  upon  him.  His 
feelings  were  tumultuous ;  yet  they  were  mingled  now  and  then 
with  a  fear  that  it  might  all  prove  in  the  end  an  illusion. 

The  next  morning,  Marvin  rose  early,  and  began  making  prepa- 
rations for  their  departure.  At  ten  o'clock,  Lieutenants  Carter  and 
Rollins  had  formed  the  men  in  line,  ready  to  march.  Captain 
Wilson  now  rode  up  in  front  of  his  men,  and  addressed  them  as 
follows :  — 

"  Comrades,  we  are  about  to  start  upon  an  expedition  that  will 
require  every  man  to  keep  a  strict  lookout ;  and  it  is  my  wish  that 
each  man  do  his  duty  promptly  and  efficiently,  so  that,  when  I  re- 
turn, I  shall  be  able  to  give  a  good  report  of  every  one  of  you." 

After  Captain  Wilson  had  closed  his  remarks  to  his  men,  they 
gave  three  hearty  cheers,  and  rode  from  camp.  In  the  afternoon 
of  the  third  day  from  camp,  as  Archie  was  riding  some  little  ways 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  77 

in  front  of  the  company,  he  discovered  a  rebel  trail.  He  immedi- 
ately wheeled,  and  'ordered  the  company  to  halt ;  then  riding  up  to 
Captain  Wilson,  he-  said,  — 

"These  infernal  secesh  are  about  here,  and  no  mistake  !  Now,  I 
think  we  had  better  camp  here ;  and  I  will  jump  off  my  horse,  and 
follow  the  trail,  and  see  what  I  can  find." 

Archie,  as  good  as  his  word,  dismounted,  and  took  the  trail  that 
led  into  the  forest.  Captain  Wilson  ordered  his  men  to  dismou  it, 
and  prepare  to  camp.  Archie  moved  cautiously  along  on  the  i.  il 
for  about  two  miles  down  the  river,  until  he  came  to  a  little  opening. 
There  he  discovered  an  encampment  of  rebels.  It  was  a  spot  so 
little  exposed  to  discovery,  that  the  band  had  thrown  off  the  re- 
straints of  war.  They  had  no  pickets  out,  and  their  horses  were 
loose,  browsing  on  the  luxuriant  foliage.  The  fires  for  cooking 
their  supper  were  burning  in  the  bright  glow  of  sunset.  Some  of 
the  men  were  cooking,  some  eating,  and  others  lounged  upon  the 
grass  in  front  of  their  tents,  playing  cards. 

Archie,  crawling  down  among  the  bushes,  got  so  near  that  lie 
could  almost  hear  them  converse.  H£  was  satisfied  that  it  was 
O'Kane  and  his  Guard.  He  cautiously  returned  to  camp,  and  told 
Captain  Wilson  that  they  had  struck  the  trail  of  O'Kane,  "  and  a 
pretty  set  of  cut-throats  they  are  too,"  said  he.  Archie  proposed 
to  the  captain  that  they  should  leave  their  horses  where  they  were, 
and  march  as  carefully  as  they  could,  and  take  the  camp  by  surprise. 
Captain  Wilson  assented  to  this  proposal,  and  ordered  his  men  to 
secure  the  horses  to  the  trees,  and  prepare  to  march. 

"  Don't  lose  half  of  the  victory,"  said  Archie,  "  by  being  it  »o 
biir  a  hurry.  Let  us  rest  ourselves,  and  eat  something,  and  th  >e 
ready  for  work." 

The  most  of  them  obeyed  the  injunction,  catching  a  brief  sleep 
while  they  waited  for  orders.  Some  three  or  four  of  the  company 
could  neither  eat  rior  sleep.  Obscured  in  its  own  shadow,  the  dense 
forest  was  soon  enveloped  in  darkness,  and  they  waited  patiently 
for  the  rising  of  the  full  harvest  moon  in  the  east.  A  more  favor- 
able hour  for  the  attacking  party  could  not  have  been  desired. 
They  were  enabled  to  steal  into  the  very  camp  of  the  enemy  before 
they  were. discovered.  Silent  and  fierce  as  the  tiger  whose  young 
has  been  stolen  from  her,  they  pressed  up  to  the  very  tent  doors. 

"  Who  goes  there?"  cried  out  suddenly  a  sharp-eared  bandit. 


78  CORA  O'KANE,   OR 

His  answer  was  a  bullet  through  the  heart.  Of  the  whole  camp 
which  sprang  to  find  the  cause  of  the  alarm,  twenty  bit  the  dust  at 
the  first  fire.  The  men,  surprised,  and  some  of  them  at  a  distance 
from  their  arms,  could  hardly  distinguish  in  the  moonlight  friend 
from  foe;  but  the  Unionists  had  marked  them,  and  bore  them 
down  resistlessly.  O'Kane's  men  now  fought  desperately.  Those 
that  lost  their  rifles  drew  their  knives,  with  which  they  made  a  stout 
resistance.  On  rushed  Captain  Wilson  towards  the  tent,  which,  by 
a  small,  dark  flag  flying  near  it,  and  its  superior  size,  was  marked 
as  that  of  O'Kane.  Coming  to  the  door,  with  rifle  in  hand  and 
sword  at  his  side,  he  looked  out  for  the  cause  of  the  melee.  The 
moon  shone  full  upon  his  figure  and  dark  face.  It  was  O'Kane, 
and  Marvin  Wilson  stood  before  him.  One  flash  of  those  glowing 
eyes  told  him  how  matters  stood.  For  a  moment  he  stood  amazed, 
then,  with  a  deadly  spring,  rushed  at  the  avenger,  and  fired,  but 
missed  the  object  of  his  fierce  hate.  He  now  ran  in  circles,  and 
doubled,  to  escape  the  aim  of  his  enemies ;  but  he  was  the  object 
of  too  righteous  a  wrath  to  escape  the  onset  of  the  resolute  men  who 
pressed  upon  him.  He  fell,  pierced  by  half  a  dozen  bullets.  Ris- 
ing upon  his  elbow,  he  drew  his  revolver,  and  aimed  at  his  nearest 
foe ;  and  the  chance  shot  of  his  dying  hand  pierced  the  arm  of 
Marvin. 

"  Take  that,  you  sneaking,  prowling  wolf !  "  yelled  Archie  in  the 
ear  of  the  expiring  man.  "  That's  for  burning  our  captain's  cabin, 
and  your  base  treatment  of  your  niece,"  and  he  plunged  his  bowie- 
knife  through  the  body  of  O'Kane.  "  I  have  kept  my  oath,  and  I 
am  satisfied." 

The  remainder  of  the  band,  seeing  the  fall  of  their  leader,  took 
to  flight,  catching  their  horses  as  they  could,  and  making  for  tne 
woods ;  but  they  were  met  by  Lieutenant  Rollins  and  a  portion  of 
the  men,  who  gave  them  such  a  volley  that  but  few  escaped.  It 
was  not  until  Archie  turned  from  the  corpse  of  O'Kane,  thai  he 
discovered  that  Marvin  was  wounded.  He  immediately  ran  to  him, 
and  inquired  if  he  was  badly  hurt. 

R  I  think  not,"  said  Archie ;  "  it  is  only  a  flesh  wound  in  the  arm." 

One  of  the  men  brought  a  lighted  torch  to  Archie,  who  closely 
examined  the  wound. 

w  It's  nothing  but  a  scratch,"  said  Archie,  "  and  a  little  plaster 
will  fix  that  all  right." 


THE  DOOZ1   OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  79 

Archie  suggested  that  Marvin  had  better  be  removed  to  O'Kane's 
tent  for  the  night. 

"  I  can  easily  walk  there  myself,"  said  Marvin,  which  he  did. 

Archie  ordered  the  tent  to  be  guarded,  while  he  and  some  of  the 
men  went  back  to  look  after  their  horses.  Finding  them  all  rio-ht, 
they  concluded  to  take  them  to  the  late  rebel  encampment,  and 
there  remain  until  morning.  The  men  now  went  to  work  and  re- 
kindled the  smouldering  fires  of  the  rebels,  and  prepared  themselves 
some  refreshments.  Archie,  in  the  capacity  of  surgeon,  was  busily 
at  his  sad  work,  while  the  men  were  bringing  the  wounded  together. 
And  thus  they  worried  out  the  night. 

In  the  morning,  Marvin  beheld  the  corpse  of  O'Kane.  He  was 
stretched  out  at  full  length  upon  the  ground  in  his  uniform  of  the 
Confederate  Guard.  A  hideous  grin  distorted  his  features,  and  he 
appeared  to  have  left  the  world  in  great  agony.  After  the  men  had 
buried  the  dead,  Captain  Wilson  and  his  officers  held  a  council,  to 
ascertain  what  they  had  better  do,  as  they  found  that  four  of  their 
own  men  were  wounded,  and  about  twenty  of  O'Kane's  Guard. 
They  proposed  to  go  no  farther  at  present,  but  to  return  with  their 
wounded,  who  must  receive  immediate  relief.  Archie  ordered  his 
men  to  make  preparations  for  carrying  the  wounded.  They  man- 
aged to  fit  up  three  of  O'Kane's  wagons  for  that  purpose.  When 
the  men  had  appropriated  all  the  valuables  which  they  could  find  to 
their  own  use,  they  set  fire  to  the  encampment,  and  left. 

When  Marvin's  men  had  put  the  wounded  rebels  into  the  wagon, 
they  found  Lieutenant  Colonel  Rice,  of  O'Kane's  Guard,  badly 
wounded ;  and,  in  conversation  with  Captain  Wilson,  he  told  him 
that  O'Kane  had  been  in  camp,  where  he  was  surprised,  about  three 
days,  and  that  they  were  on  their  way  to  join  Price.  As  O'Kane 
was  determined  to  do  but  little  fighting  outside  of  Missouri,  he  had 
been  in  no  hurry  about  moving. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

They  had  not  gone  a  great  distance  on  their  way  back  before 
they  were  happily  surprised  by  meeting  Majors  Zagonyi  and  White, 
with  their  commands,  on  their  way  to  Springfield.  Captain  Wilson 
told  them  that  he  had  just  had  a  fight  with  O'Kane,  and  had  anni- 


80  COHA  O'KANE,   OR 

hilated  his  Guard,  and  he  was  now  on  his  return  with  the  wounded 
to  Eolla  ;  and  he  proposed,  after  conversing  with  them  a  while  as  to 
the  route  they  should  take  to  Springfield,  to  detach  a  squad  of  men, 
in  charge  of  a  sergeant,  to  take  the  wounded  to  Rolla,  while  he  and 
the  rest  of  his  men  accompanied  Zagonyi  to  Springfield.  They 
were  soon  on  their  way,  and,  by  marching  all  night,  arrived  at 
Springfield  early  next  morning.  As  they  had  made  a  detour  of 
twelve  miles,  this  brought  them  to  the  right  of  the  town. 

On  reaching  the  outskirts  of  Springfield,  they  found  twelve  hun- 
dred infantry  and  four  hundred  cavalry  were  posted  on  the  crown 
of  a  hill,  prepared  for  and  awaiting  them.  But  the  brave  Unionists 
did  not  quail.  A  miry  brook  and  a  stout  rail  fence,  where  sharp- 
shooters were  judiciously  posted  behind  the  trees  and  fences,  were 
the  first  things  the  Unionists  discovered  as  they  approached  the  ene- 
,my.  They  could  see  no  entrance  but  through  a  very  narrow  lane. 
Zagonyi  advanced  to  Captain  Wilson,  and  handed  him  the  glass ; 
who  looked  through  it  towards  the  enemy. 

■"  You  observe,  captain,"  said  the  major,  K  the  obstacles  to  be 
overcome  before  we  can  get  very  near  the  rebels.  That  fence  must 
be  taken  down,  and  those  sharpshooters  silenced,  before  we  can 
strike.     Can  you  accomplish  that  work,  captain  ?  " 

M  I  will  try,"  said  Captain  Wilson ;  and  he  turned  to  his  brave 
comrades,  and  said,  r— 

"  My  lads,  we  have  an  important  work  to  perform.  Be  steady, 
be  vigilant,  and  fight  with  your  usual  bravery." 

Marvin  now  divided  his  men  into  two  platoons,  he  commanding 
one  and  Archie  the  other.  Captain  Wilson  now  gave  the  word 
of  command :  — 

H  By  the  right  flank,  march  ! "  and  they  rushed  to  their  work. 
All  this  was  the  act  of  a.  moment ;  but  when  that  moment  had 
passed,  seventy  of  Marvin's  men,  dead  and  wounded,  were  stretched 
upon  the  ground.  This  caused  Marvin  to  be  more  frantic,  and  he 
rushed  on  to  the  enemy  with  the  fury  of  a  lion.  Archie's  voice  was 
heard  above  the  din  of  battle.  Zagonyi, .closely  watching  the  move- 
ments of  Marvin,  turned  to  his  brave  guard,  and  said,  — 

"  Now  is  the  time,  boys  !  Come  on  —  I  will  lead  you  !  Let  the 
watchword  be,  *  The  Union  and  Fremont ! '  Draw  sabres  !  Quick 
step,  march !  " 

Up  to  fhisJime  no  guardsman  has  struck  a  .blow.     Their  time 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  81 

has  come.  Lieutenant  Mathenyi,  with  thirty  men,  is  ordered  to 
attack  the  cavalry.  With  sabres  flashing  over  their  heads,  the  little 
band  of  heroes  spring  towards  their  tremendous  foe.  Right  upon 
the  centre  they  charge.  The  dense  mass  opens,  the  blue-coats  force 
their  way  in,  and  the  whole  rebel  squadron  scatter  in  disgraceful 
flight  through  the  cornfields  in  the  rear.  The  boys  follow  them, 
sabring  the  fugitives.  Days  afterwards,  the  enemy's  horse  lie  thick 
among  the  uncut  corn.  Zagonyi  holds  his  main  body  until  May- 
thenyi  disappears  in  the  cloud  of  rebel  cavalry ;  then  his  voice  rises 
through  the  air,  — 

"  In  open  order  —  charge  !  " 

The  line  opens  out,  to  give  play  to  their  sword-arm.  Steeds 
respond  to  the  order  of  their  riders,  and,  quick  as  thought,  with 
thrilling  cheers,  the  noble  hearts  rush  into  the  leaden  torrent  which 
pours  down  the  incline.  With  unabated  fire,  the  gallant  fellows 
press  through.  The  fierce  onset  is  not  even  checked.  The  foe  do 
not  wait  for  them  —  they  waver,  break,  and  fly.  The  guardsmen 
spur  into  the  midst  of  the  rout,  and  their  fast-falling  swords  work 
a  terrible  revenge.  Some  of  the  boldest  of  the  Southrons  retreat 
into  the  woods,  and  continue  a  murderous  fire  from  behind  trees  and 
thickets.  Seven  guard-horses  fall  upon  a  space  not  more  than 
twenty  feet  square.  As  his  steed  sinks  under  him,  one  of  the  offi- 
cers is  caught  around  the  shoulders  by  a  grape-vine,  and  hangs 
dangling  in  the  air  until  he  is  cut  down  by  his  friends.  The  rebel 
foot  are  flying  in  furious  haste  from  the  field.  Some  take  refuge  in 
the  fair-ground ;  some  hurry  into  the  cornfields ;  but  the  greater 
part  run  along  the  edge  of  the  wood,  swarm  over  the  fence  into  the 
road,  and  hasten  to  the  village.  The  guardsmen  follow.  Zagonyi 
leads  them.  Over  the  loudest  roar  of  battle  rings  his  clarion 
voice :  —  , 

"  Come  on,  Old  Kentuck  !     I'm  with  you  !  "  and  the  flash  of  his 
sword-blade  tells  his  men  where  to  go. 

As  he  approaches  a  barn,  a  man  steps  from  behind  the  door  and 
lowers  his  rifle ;  but,  before  it  has  reached  a  level,  Zagonyi's  sabre- 
point  descends  upon  his  head,  and  his  life-blood  leaps  to  the  very 
top  of  the  huge  barn  door.  The  conflict  now  rages  through  the 
village  —  in  the  public  square  and  along  the  streets.  Upa*nd  down 
the  guards  ride  in  squads  of  three  or  four,  and,  wherever  they  see 
a  group  of  the  enemy,  charge  upon  and  scatter  them.  It  is  hand 
11 


82  CORA  O'KANE,   OR 

to  hand.  No  one  but  has  a  share  in  the  fray.  After  the  rebels  had 
been  driven  from  their  works,  they  rushed  for  the  village,  and  Cap- 
tain Wilson  and  Archie,  with  their  little  command,  followed  them. 
Marvin's  horse  stumbled  and  fell,  and,  while  he  was  trying  to  extri- 
cate himself  from  the  fallen  steed,  he  severely  injured  his  wounded 
arm^  A  colored  woman,  seeing  the  dilemma  the  Union  officer  was 
placed  in,  rushed  out  of  her  house  to  his  rescue.  At  this  moment, 
Archie  turned  round  to  see  if  the  captain  was  near  him,  and  he 
quickly  beheld  the  plight  that  he  was  in.  Archie  wheeled  at  once, 
and  went  to  his  assistance,  but  not  until  the  colored  woman  had 
succeeded  in  getting  him  up,  and  was  leading  him  towards  her  house. 
Archie  secured  the  captain's  horse  and  his  own ;  and  when  he  en- 
tered the  colored  woman's  house,  Marvin  lay  upon  the  bed,  and 
Cora  was  bathing  his  head. 

As  Cora  saw  Archie  enter,  she  gave  him  a  smile,  but  spoke  not 
a  word,  she  was  so  busily  engaged  in  bathing  the  hero's  head. 
Marvin  lay  unconscious  of  what  was  going  on  around  him.  The 
colored  woman  now  turned  to  Archie,  and  said,  — 

"  I  do  not  think  he's  dangerously  injured." 

"  Xo,  no,"  said  Cora,  bending  over  him.  "Speak,  Marvin,  do 
speak  to  me." 

He  smiled  as  he  heard  her  voice,  and  opened  his  eyes.  His  face 
was  so  thin  and  so  pale,  that  he  looked  as  if  months  of  sickness 
had  passed  over  him.  She  now  poured  between  his  lips  some  stim- 
ulant.    He  soon  spoke,  in  a  suppressed  voice,  and  said,  — 

"It's  only  my  arm,"  which  Archie  and  the  woman  went  about 
dressing  as  well  as  they  could.  The  bustle  of  preparation  for  pur- 
suing the  enemy  now  grew  so  loud,  that  Archie  was  obliged  to 
leave,  saying,  as  he  turned  to  go,  — 

"  Captain,  I  must  leave  you  for  a  while." 

As  he  entered  the  street,  and  seized  his  horse's  rein,  to  mount,  he 
saw  men  approaching  with  Lieutenant  Rollins  on  a  stretcher.  He 
was  wounded  in  the  thigh,  and  they  were  carrying  him  to  the  rear. 

"  "Wal,"  said  Archie  to  himself,  "  who  knows  but  what  my  turn 
will  come  next?  "  as  he  jumped  upon  his  horse,  and  rode  towards  the 
enemy.  He  had  proceeded  but  a  short  distance  before  he  saw  Za- 
gonyi.  He  told  Archie  he  should  evacuate  the  town  by  nightfall. 
Archie  then  said,  — 

"  By  your  permission,  major,  I  will  see  to  the  removal  of  Captain 


THE  DOOM  OF  THE  REBEL  GUARD.  83 

Wilson  immediately ;  he  was  severely  hurt  by  the  falling  of  his 
horse." 

"  Yes,  certainly,"  said  the  major.  "  So  brave  a  hero  as  he  has 
proved  himself  must  be  taken  care  of." 

Lieutenant  Archie  rode  back  to  Marvin,  and  preparations  were 
made  to  remove  him  from  the  town ;  and  Cora  must  certainly  go 
with  them.  While  Archie  went  to  procure  a  wagon  for  their  con- 
veyance, Marvin  amply  paid  Mrs.  Parker  for  what  she  had  done  for 
Cora  and  himself.  Archie  returned  in  about  an  hour  with  a  very 
comfortable  vehicle.  They  were  soon  on  the  road,  and  by  sundown 
had  reached  a  place  of  safety,  and  were  snugly  bivouacked  for  the 
night.  On  the  following  morning,  General  Sigel  came  up  with  the 
whole  of  his  command.  Captain  Wilson  remained  in  this  camp 
three  days,  where  a  hospital  had  been  prepared  for  the  reception  of 
the  wounded.  With  the  services  of  a  skilful  surgeon,  and  the 
careful  nursing  of  Cora,  Marvin  was  getting  along  very  well. 

While  here,  Captain  Wilson  tendered  his  resignation  to  General 
Fremont,  which  was  accepted,  as  the  condition  of  his  arm  was  such 
that  it  would  not  admit  of  his  performing  any  actual  service  for 
some  time.  For  the  heroic  bravery  of  Archie  and  the  men  of  his 
command,  a  furlough  of  thirty  days  was  accorded. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

It  was  a  lovely  morning,  about  the  last  of  September,  after  the 
events  detailed  in  the  previous  chapter,  that  Captain  Wilson  and  his 
little  band,  accompanied  by  Cora,  set  out  for  Clay's  Settlement. 
They  proceeded  easily  along,  and  did  not  arrive  at  the  place  of  des- 
tination until  the  afternoon  of  the  third  day  of  their  departure  from 
camp.  It  had  been  agreed  that  they  should  not  halt  at  the  man- 
sion, but  proceed  at  once  to  the  Settlement.  When  they  came  within 
view  of  the  house,  Cora  was  affected  to  tears,  and  she  wept  freely. 
All  around  the  mansion  seemed  silent  and  deserted.  There  was  no 
one  to  be  seen  around  the  premises,  and  everything  seemed  to  beto- 
ken the  absence  of  the  owner. 

After  Cora  had  remained  three  days  at  the  Settlement,  she  and 
her  friends  proceeded  to  the  mansion  of  which  she  was  now  undis- 
puted owner.     Rebecca  was  in  great  distress  at  the  death  of  her 


84  CORA  o'kane. 

brother-in-law j  and,  completely  humbled,  she  implored  the  forgive- 
ness  of  Cora,  which  was  readily  granted.  O'Kane  had  obtained 
the  fortune  of  Cora,  but,  alas  for  him !  only  that  she  might  enjoy 
it.  Cora  O'Kane  was  grateful  to  that  Providence  that  had  watched 
over  and  defended  her  amid  all  the  trials  she  had  been  called  on  to 
pass7  through.  She  acknowledged  it  with  gratitude  when  she  thought 
of  her  deliverance,  and  she  acknowledged  it  when  she  pondered 
upon  the  Doom  of  the  Rebel  Guard. 

On  the  day  after  her  arrival  at  the  mansion,  Cora  O'Kane  was 
united  to  Marvin  Wilson  by  the  very  minister  who  had  attended 
him  previous  to  his  intended  execution,  in  the  presence  of  Lieutenant 
Rollins,  Archie  Carter,  and  Rebecca.  When  their  furlough  had 
expired,  Archie  and  his  men  departed  to  join  the"  army  under  Sigel. 
He  steadily  refused  the  urgent  solicitations  of  Marvin  and  his  wife 
to  spend  his  days  beneath  their  roof  in  ease  and  plenty. 

"I  can't,"  said  he.  "My  country  wants  my  services,  Marvin, 
and  she  must  have  'em.  When  the  war  is  over,  I  may  take  up  with 
your  kind  offer." 

The  worthy  Archie  lived  to  make  good  his  promise.  And  now, 
kind  reader,  as  we  have  followed  Marvin  and  Cora  to  a  happy 
union,  and  the  return  of  Archie  to  their  hospitable  roof,  here  we 
will  leave  them,  while  the  whole  nation  will  proclaim,  with  shouts 
of  joy,  Well  doxe,  good  and  faithful  Soldier  ! 


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ft        — 

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